Acting Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has issued a passionate reminder to newly enrolled lawyers, cautioning them against transforming the noble practice of law into a profit-driven enterprise.
Speaking at the Mini Call to the Bar ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre on Friday, where 123 lawyers were formally enrolled, the Acting Chief Justice stressed that law is fundamentally a call to service—not a marketplace for personal gain.
“Do not be tempted to turn the practice of law into a business for personal gain only. It is a call to service. Do not turn justice into a commodity. It is a value which is earned, preserved, and sometimes defended with courage,” he charged the new members of the legal profession.
A call rooted in service and responsibility
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie congratulated the newly enrolled lawyers for completing Ghana’s rigorous Professional Legal Education programme, describing their success as the result of perseverance, intellectual rigour, and emotional strength.
He acknowledged the personal sacrifices that many of the lawyers had made—balancing education with work and family life—on their path to the Bar.
“Everyone of you has had to overcome difficult tasks, some including juggling jobs with education and family life while completing demanding courses and writing examinations. While some of you might have had one only try, some of you faced some small battles,” he said.
“But all the same, the destination is the prestigious call to the Bar that we are now witnessing.”
But Justice Baffoe-Bonnie was quick to point out that the call to the Bar was not merely ceremonial—it marked the beginning of a lifelong covenant.
“To be called to the Bar is a covenant between you and the law, between you and society and between you and your conscience,” he declared.
Lawyers as stewards of justice
The Acting Chief Justice urged the lawyers to be more than just representatives of clients in courtrooms.
He reminded them that they are also guardians of justice, stewards of the legal system, and defenders of fairness and equity.
He encouraged them to apply emotional intelligence alongside legal knowledge and to consider the human consequences of every legal argument and decision.
“Each case you handle will have real world implications, which will impact lives, families, and communities,” he said. “Your actions will shape the legal landscape and may influence the course of history.”
According to Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, the true measure of a lawyer is not in the flair of their rhetoric or the sophistication of their legal briefs, but in the unwavering integrity with which they serve the cause of justice.
He reminded the newly enrolled lawyers that their words must carry weight and their actions must inspire trust in a society that often questions the fairness of the legal system.
Ethics and public trust must guide the profession
Urging the lawyers to uphold high ethical standards, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie emphasized that the public’s faith in the legal system rests in part on the conduct of its practitioners. “Upholding ethical standards fosters public confidence in the law, which fosters the smooth functioning of our society,” he stated.
The Acting Chief Justice shared insights from his own 45-year journey through the legal system, spanning both the bench and the bar.
He acknowledged systemic challenges including delays in the adjudication of cases and unequal access to justice, but maintained that public confidence in the justice system must be constantly earned.
He urged the new lawyers to demonstrate not only loyalty to their clients, but also respect for the court and a commitment to the wider society.
“The dignity of your profession is not measured by the eloquence of your arguments but by the integrity with which you serve,” he said.
A charge for the future
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s speech came at a time when public concern about legal ethics, access to justice, and the commercialisation of the legal profession continues to grow in Ghana.
His message was both a warning and a charge: the legal profession must not fall into the trap of pursuing profit at the expense of justice.
