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...