The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has appealed to Chief Justice Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to ensure that established rules and traditions governing Ghana’s legal vacation are respected.
The association’s concerns center on directives requiring lawyers to appear before courts during the vacation period despite notifying the courts of their unavailability.
In a letter dated August 10, 2026, the GBA explained that Ghana’s legal vacation, which runs from August 1 to September 30, is intended to provide judges, lawyers and judicial staff with a period of respite following an intensive court calendar.
The association, however, acknowledged that designated Vacation Courts may continue to sit during the period to deal with urgent and interlocutory matters.
According to the GBA, the established practice has traditionally been for Vacation Courts not to conduct trials, particularly in circumstances where the absence of counsel would affect their effective participation in proceedings.
The association said that where a lawyer informs the court that they are unavailable during the legal vacation, the appropriate response should be to adjourn the case rather than proceed without the lawyer.
The GBA maintained that lawyers should not be compelled to attend Vacation Court after indicating that they are unavailable.
Its position follows complaints from three law firms over notices directing their lawyers to appear before judges to continue hearing part-heard criminal cases during the current legal vacation.
Among the affected lawyers are Messrs Zoe, Akyea, who represent former National Signals Bureau boss Adu Boahen.
The GBA argued that compelling lawyers to attend court despite their stated unavailability undermines the purpose of the legal vacation and departs from established judicial practice.
It has therefore called on the Chief Justice to take steps to ensure that the longstanding rules governing the vacation period are respected.
The association said adherence to the established practice would preserve the purpose of the legal vacation while ensuring that lawyers are able to participate effectively in court proceedings when they resume their normal schedules.
