A glimpse of 2024: Top news items on DL News
Our top picks for 2024 include the new requirement by the GBA for lawyers to show proof of CLE participation for licence renewal from 2025 onwards and the viral news of the marriage between the 80-year-old former Education Minister and his 30-year-old lover, Ankaful prison inmates jailed for operating a fake 'travel and tour' company and many more

In January, the Ghana Bar Association(GBA) gave a hint of its intention to begin the implementation of a mandatory requirement for lawyers to show proof of Continuous Legal Education for solicitor license renewal.
It thus indicated that all applications for 2025 Solicitors Licences will consider CLE hours earned by members in 2024.
A statement signed by its National Secretary, Kwaku Gyau Baffour further reveals that the Association now has an upgraded portal with few changes to format and functionality but urges members to interact with it in much the same way.
Also, three Supreme Court nominees were sworn in by the president, Nana Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, January 3, at the Jubilee House.
The Justices; Henry Anthony Kwofie, Yaw Darko Asare, and Richard Adjei-Frimpong, were appointed owing to the mandatory retirements of Justices Amegatcher, former CJ Anin Yeboah, and Jones Dotse last year.
https://dennislawnews.com/article/justices-kwofie--asare--adjei-frimpong-sworn-into-supreme-court
As part of the Dennislaw judgment and case review, the team reviewed a case in which a man almost lost his airport facility because of his magnanimous gesture towards his friend, who made him stay in the building rent-free. Issues arose later, however, leading to the friend’s wife even claiming ownership of the property.
However, the apex court was alert and up in time to save the situation when it was brought before it. You may find the full case on Dennislaw.
The defamation case between the National Security Minister, Kan Dapaah, and activist, Oliver-Barker Vormawor is on.
The lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor insisted in his statement of defense that the National Security Minister indeed offered him money, airplane tickets, public appointments, etc. to procure him to abandon his activism but rejected the same.
According to him, his refusal has led the minister to cause and conspire in causing his arrest, detention, torture, and the false prosecutions he has been facing since February 2021.
In a certain judgment, the Sekondi High Court in the Western Region of Ghana ordered Doris Dsane of Effiakuma, New Site, to allow her ex-husband, Nana Aboagye Boachie-Danquah, to give their only child his chosen name in line with Ghanaian custom.
The court noted that it is an accepted norm among the various ethnic groups that a father must perform a child’s naming ceremony but not the mother, as in this case.
The plaintiff, Nana Aboagye Boachie-Danquah contracted an ordinance marriage with the respondent and thus gave birth to a sole child.
https://dennislawnews.com/article/allow-your-ex-husband-to-rename-child---sekondi-court-orders-woman
Member of Parliament for the South-Dayi Constituency, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, brought a legal action against the Controller and Accountant General, Mr Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, asking the High Court to injunct Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem while he maintains his candidacy to contest the NPP parliamentary primaries for the Akim-Swedru constituency.
In the court document, the MP argued that while civil servants like Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem are entitled to their political views, and may vote during elections, they are however required to resign from office should they decide to contest in any political activity.
A woman was ordered to pay damages and costs amounting to GHC 20,300 for wrongfully representing that Boris Fidelis was responsible for her pregnancy.
The court presided over by Justice Atitey Armah-Tetteh, arrived at this conclusion after finding the woman guilty of deceit owing to her wrongful accusation that had caused the man damage.
Boris Fidelis, who is a police officer, instituted this action, claiming damages and costs for deceit against the woman.
Visually-impaired lawyer, Carruthers Tetteh was appointed a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast Faculty of Law - making it the faculty's first historic appointment of a person with visual impairment.
Mr. Tetteh in 2022, was among the 844 lawyers who were called to the Bar in November of that year.
His appointment took effect in December 2023, and he teaches Criminal Law and the Ghana Legal System.
https://dennislawnews.com/article/carruthers-tetteh--visually-impaired-lawyer-appointed-ucc-lecturer
The Director of Legal Education and the Ghana School of Law, Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong, hinted that the school will formally establish a campus in Kumasi, which would be the first regional campus in the country.
This, he said, was because the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, had renewed his commitment to designate a suitable location of land for this to commence.
The Coup trial ended with the High Court acquitting ACP Benjamin Agordzo, Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, and Corporal Seidu Abubakar, who were accused of abetting to plot a coup together with seven others.
The court, however, found the other six guilty on the counts of conspiracy to commit high treason and high treason and thus sentenced them to death accordingly.
They are Donya Kafui, aka Ezor, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, Johannes Zikpi, Warrant Officer II Esther Saan Dekuwine, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon.
The marriage story of the former Education Minister also went viral with the High Court at Cape Coast praying to Professor Dominic Fobih, to forgive his son and nephew for an action taken against his decision to marry a 30-year-old lady.
According to the court, an action filed by his son and nephew had no justifiable grounds, and did not see why the 80-year-old Dominic Fobih could not be married to the love of his life.
You may recall the wide public interest and an outburst in May 2023 after the traditional wedding video of the former minister to the lady went viral.
A lawyer, dragged DVLA to Supreme Court seeking the erasure of all foreign symbols from imported cars in Ghana
According to him, if allowed, these symbols have the propensity to trample on the prestige of the nation, and thus every car in Ghana to rather have the national symbols on them.
Supreme Court Correspondent Richard Osei Boateng reported, however, that the 7-member panel presided over by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was not convinced by the plaintiff’s case and thus dismissed it.
The Land battle between Apostolic Faith Mission, Mohammed Odartey Lamptey came before the Supreme Court where the court in a significant manner made a decision that will certainly go a long way to end the phenomenon of executive interference, especially in the area of land ownership and registration at the Lands Commission, which has been a ‘neck raider’ for many in Ghana and denied them their rightful purchased lands.
Parliament passed the anti-LGBTQ bill, known as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.
The bill seeks to criminalize LGBTQ practices and advocacy, particularly by prescribing a 3 and 5-year jail term respectively.
https://dennislawnews.com/article/parliament-passes-anti-lgbtq--bill
A Ghanaian private legal practitioner and partner of the AB and David Africa Law firm, Nana Serwah Godson-Amamoo, died in the United Arab Emirates after engaging in scuba diving.
She collapsed shortly upon returning to her hotel and died afterward.
Nana Serwah was a partner in the Firm’s Natural Resources and Extractive Industries Practice Group. She has over 19 years of experience in energy and the extractive industries.
https://dennislawnews.com/article/renowned-ghanaian-lawyer-reported-dead-after-scuba-diving-in-dubai
A man in London was sentenced to over four years in prison for "stealthing," secretly removing a condom during sex. The case hinged on the legal principle of conditional consent and reaffirmed that non-consensual condom removal is considered rape under English and Welsh law.
The jury at Inner London Crown Court was presented with text messages where Mukendi admitted to the act, stating he did it because he had not had sex in a long time.
https://dennislawnews.com/article/man-jailed-for-over-four-years-for-condom-removal-during-sex
The High Court held Achimota School negligent in not providing proper medical care to a General Arts student, which ultimately led to his death.
Barely seven years and six months after his passing, the family of 15-year-old Kervin Kofi Moses has finally seen justice.
In the judgment dated May 28, 2024, Justice Comfort Kwasiwor Tasiame held that Dominic Danso, the Housemaster of Fraser House, failed to exercise his duty of care to Moses.
The Chief Justice, Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo launched a new software to assist the Independent Examination Committee (IEC) of the General Legal Council (GLC) in its management and administration of law exams.
The software, which comprises a website and examination portal, consolidates all exam-related activities under the IEC and aims to improve the management and administration of these exams.
Again, it will allow prospective law students to purchase examination vouchers, register for the entrance exam, and check their admission status with ease.
The High Court at Ho has jailed three inmates at the Ankaful Maximum Prison in the Central Region of Ghana for operating a fake online travel tour company while serving their jail terms.
The three who are Courage Bani, Samuel Ofori, and Bright Dzebu were sentenced to a 15-year jail term by the court presided over by Justice Charity Asem (Mrs).
Further to the above, the court directed the Minister of Interior to investigate how the mobile phone got into the hands of these convicts for use despite being under the supervision of Mr Essiam, Superintendent Ewusi, and DSP Mark Tawiah.
On medical negligence, Legal practitioner and author, Albert Gyamfi has advised Ghanaians to take legal action against healthcare facilities and professionals to drive reforms in the country's health system.
Gyamfi emphasized that the persistence of medical negligence in Ghana is partly due to the reluctance of victims to seek justice.
He encouraged those affected by medical negligence to pursue legal remedies, even if they were not personally interested in any financial compensation.
https://dennislawnews.com/article/medical-negligence--sanitize-health-system-by-suing-lawyer-advises