By Mavis Paintsil, Accra
Senior Presidential Advisor to President John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, has made a strong case for sustained investment in Ghana’s legal profession, warning that the country’s democratic and economic ambitions will stall if justice delivery remains underfunded.
Speaking to Media in a report published this morning, the lawyer and former Deputy Transport Minister said Ghana has for too long treated the justice sector as secondary to other sectors.
“Everywhere in the world, the legal profession is the anchor of democracy, good governance and economic growth. Ghana cannot be an exception. If we want a Ghana that works for all, we must deliberately and consistently invest in the law and those who practice it,” she said.
Justice Sector Under Pressure
Madam Mogtari said the legal profession in Ghana is facing multiple pressures — from overcrowded courtrooms, manual filing systems, inadequate legal aid for the poor, high cost of legal training, to poor conditions of service for lower bench judges and Judicial Service staff.
She said recent agitations by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) for a closure of the salary gap between lower bench and superior court judges highlight a deeper funding challenge.
“You cannot ask for efficient, timely justice when the people who deliver it are struggling. You cannot attract the best brains into the judiciary and keep them if welfare is neglected,” she stated.
Legal Education, Infrastructure, Digitisation
The Notary Public of Ghana called for a three-pronged investment approach:
- Legal Education: Expansion of the Ghana School of Law, investment in law faculties across public universities, scholarships and practical training for young lawyers.
- Infrastructure and Technology: Modern court buildings, e-justice systems, digital recording and case tracking to reduce delays.
- Welfare and Professional Growth: Continuous professional development, legal research support, and better pay for judges, magistrates, state attorneys and JUSAG members.
“When a case takes five to ten years to travel through the courts, it is not just a legal failure, it is an economic failure. Businesses collapse, families suffer. Investment in digitisation alone will save the economy billions,” she noted.
Rule of Law Is Economic Policy
Linking justice to President Mahama’s economic agenda, Madam Mogtari argued that Ghana’s 24-hour economy, AfCFTA hub ambitions and drive to add value to cocoa and minerals will only succeed if investors trust Ghana’s legal system.
“No serious investor goes where contracts cannot be enforced quickly and fairly. Our legal profession gives that confidence. Rule of law is not just a governance slogan, it is economic policy,” she said.
She urged government, the Ghana Bar Association, General Legal Council, Judicial Council and private sector to agree on a long-term, non-partisan financing framework for the justice sector.
“Justice must not be a privilege for the few who can afford it. It must be a right for every Ghanaian. And that requires investment — not once, not occasionally, but sustainably,” Madam Mogtari said.
Ghanaianannoucer
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