LAUNCH OF LAW REFORM COMMISSION AND LEGAL AID COMMISSION FUND
H.E the President Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo under the auspices of the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice launched two separate funds for the Law Reform Commission and the Legal Aid Commission at the auditorium of the Law Court complex on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.
In his keynote address, the President urged all to generously donate to the fund. He also assured the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame that the Minister of Finance, through Parliament will provide adequate resources for the sustenance of the funds.
The President further indicated that, his government has committed a Two Million Cedi seed into the newly established Law Reform Commission and Legal Aid Commission Fund. Each fund will receive One Million Cedis each.
He also promised to personally donate an amount of GHc 100,000.00 each to the fund and ensure that the Agencies will receive the necessary help in order to usher a progressive chapter in the lives of the two Commissions.
“I am personally contributing one hundred thousand cedis to each of the Funds and I am aware that government through the Ministry of Finance, is contrivance initial modest seed fund of one million cedi to each of the funds. Hopefully, the Minister will do even more” Akufo-Addo added.
He also charged the Board of the Legal Aid Commission which is chaired by the respected Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Nene Amegatcher and the Board for the Law Reform Commission chaired by the prominent legal practitioner, Mr. Anthony Akoto Ampaw to ensure that they employ prudent measures in the management and disbursement of the funds that will flow into their respective Funds in his address.
“I also urge the board of the legal aid Commission which is chaired by e respected Justice of the Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Nene Amegatcher, and the board of the Law Reform Commission, which is chaired by the prominent legal practitioner, Mr. Anthony Akoto Ampaw, to discharge faithfully, dutifully, the mandates of managing the funds in accordance to the Legal Aid Commission Act, 2018 section 34 of (Act 977), “to offer legal aid through the provision of legal services to the poor and the vulnerable through legal education” and section 13 of Act 822 respectfully.”
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame in his welcome address for the occasion stated that, the establishment of the two funds will be a welcome and a delightful development in the history of legal services and justice delivery in Ghana.
He also acknowledged the mass patronage of the programme and expressed his sincerest gratitude to the Heads of Institutions and Staff as well as stakeholders who were present at the ceremony.
“I am grateful for the patronage we have received for this programme. Representatives of various institutions of state that are here, the Diplomatic Corps, Civil Society Organizations, various Development Partners and Stakeholders in the work of the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, senior legal practitioners and former Attorney-Generals. I am grateful for your attendance. Your generous contributions after the funds have been set up, will greatly assist in the attainment of the objects of the two Commissions” the Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame added.
Among the Dignitaries that were present were the Acting Chief Justice His Lordship Justice Victor Doste, Member of the Council of State Representing the Chairman of State Hon. Enoch Teye Mensah, The Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah Yeboah, Executive Director for Law Reform Commission Mrs. Anita Ababio and the Executive Director for Legal Aid Commission Mr. Martin Amoyaw, Mrs. Helen Awo Akpene Ziwu, the Solicitor-General and Divisional Heads at the Office of the Attorney-General, Mr. John Kumah, Deputy Finance Minister, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister for Information, Hon. Ambrose Dery, Minister for Interior, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Mr. Yaw Oppong Director, Legal Education, General Legal Council ( Ghana School of Law).