The Ghana Law Society (GLS) says its establishment is intended to provide an additional platform for lawyers, particularly in promoting members’ welfare, rather than to compete with the Ghana Bar Association (GBA).
The GLS is developing a welfare package that will see 20 per cent of members’ dues allocated towards financing a life insurance policy.
The initiative forms part of the society’s broader focus on addressing the professional and personal welfare needs of lawyers.
The development comes amid a Supreme Court case being pursued by Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who is challenging the legal basis of the GBA’s claim to exclusive representation on certain statutory bodies.
Mr Dafeamekpor has maintained that the case does not seek to challenge the existence or relevance of the GBA but rather the interpretation of constitutional provisions that specifically reference the association.
He argues that references to the GBA in the 1992 Constitution should not be interpreted as granting the association exclusive representation, particularly in light of the constitutional guarantee of freedom of association.
Speaking in an interview with Channel One TV on Wednesday, October 7, Mr Dafeamekpor said the GLS was not being established as a rival to the GBA.
“We’re not in competition with the Ghana Bar Association. I’m saying that as a law society, our focus has been on the welfare of our members, which the GBA doesn’t do,” he said.
He also called for greater tolerance of differing political views among lawyers, arguing that the GLS should not adopt an anti-NPP position because some of its members belong to the party.
“We are lawyers. We should be tolerant of opposing views. That’s our training,” he said.
The Ghana Law Society was inaugurated on September 30, 2026, during its maiden bar conference.
