Posts

ETHICS, INTEGRITY & LAWYERING: CONFRONTING IMPUNITY, ADVANCING JUSTICE FOR SOCIETY

-
  In Ghana’s fight against corruption and environmental destruction, the conscience of the legal profession is on trial. Ghana is at a crossroads. INTRODUCTION Corruption continues to deplete public resources. Illegal mining is devastating river bodies, farmlands, and ecosystems—placing food security in serious jeopardy. These acts are not accidental; they are deliberate, profit-driven crimes committed by a few individuals at the expense of the entire nation. Yet, there is a deeper issue compounding this crisis: the legal defence of the indefensible. In many of these cases, those involved in grand corruption or illegal mining are represented by lawyers. While the law grants every accused person the right to legal representation and the presumption of innocence, this legal shield has too often become a tool for enabling impunity. There exists a moral tension we can no longer afford to ignore. THE ROLE OF THE LAWYER: LEGAL TECHNICIAN OR CITIZEN? Under Ghanaian law, lawyers...
Post a Comment
Read more

SYSTEMIC LAPSES IN AML COMPLIANCE: DID SOME BANKS ENABLE GRAND CORRUPTION?

-
 INTRODUCTION As corruption scandals involving politically exposed persons (PEPs) dominate national discourse, one critical institution has largely escaped meaningful scrutiny: the banking sector. These are the very institutions that processed, facilitated, and in some cases, seemingly ignored questionable transactions. The evidence is stark — vast sums of money moved through regulated banks, often originating from state accounts and ending in private hands. Many of these funds were then used to acquire high-value assets such as real estate. Given the existing regulatory frameworks and sophisticated compliance tools available, it is difficult to believe this occurred without at least the tacit consent — or wilful neglect — of the financial system. This suggests more than isolated lapses. It points to deep structural weaknesses and the possible erosion of risk governance within the banks involved. To understand how this happened, one must consider the classic three-stage model of mo...
Post a Comment
Read more

THE JUDICIAL PENSION SHORTCUT: A QUIET EXPLOIT IN GHANA’S CONSTITUTION

-
  INTRODUCTION This article is prompted by recent events during the parliamentary vetting of Supreme Court nominees, where questions emerged regarding the implications of Article 155 of the 1992 Constitution —particularly concerning judicial pensions and late-career appointments. The intersection of Article 155 with the mandatory retirement provisions in Article 145(2) of the 1992 Constitution creates a strategic pathway where senior public service lawyers can transition into the judiciary at age 60, serve a minimum of five years , and secure a lifetime pension equivalent to that of a serving Justice. This arrangement effectively turns late-career judicial appointments into a comfortable retirement plan for those nearing the end of their public service careers. The focus of this article is to spotlight this under-examined constitutional mechanism and evaluate whether it inadvertently incentivizes such appointments , driven more by strategic retirement planning than by a...
Post a Comment
Read more

BEYOND THE LAW: HOW LEADERSHIP & OD PROCESSES DRIVE SMARTER POLITICAL GOVERNANCE

-
  INTRODUCTION Political governance is often understood as the exercise of authority within a legal framework. While laws provide the necessary structure for decision-making, they are not sufficient on their own to ensure just and effective governance. Legal compliance alone is not enough for good governance—a government or institution may act within its legal mandate, yet still create harmful consequences if decisions lack wisdom, ethical consideration, or structured Organizational Development (OD) processes. True governance requires more than legal authority—it demands wisdom, leadership, and sound OD processes to achieve sustainable and fair outcomes. Laws, like tools, are only as effective as those who wield them. A hammer can build a house or destroy it, depending on how it is used. Similarly, the law can either promote justice or be misapplied to justify oppression and inefficiency. This article argues that political governance must extend beyond legal mandates, integra...
Post a Comment
Read more