Remove Oliver Barker-Vormawor from Roll of lawyers-Teacher petitions GLC
He indicates that Mr. Oliver has made certain deliberate statements publicly, which fall below the dignity and high standing of the legal profession and lawyers in general.
A professional teacher, Vance Adedze is seeking the removal of Oliver Barker-Vormawor from the Roll of Lawyers in Ghana.
He indicates that Mr. Oliver has made certain deliberate statements publicly, which fall below the dignity and high standing of the legal profession and lawyers in general.
In a complaint dated February 15, 2022, and addressed to the Chairman of the General Legal Council, the complainant indicates that the conduct of Mr. Oliver relates to public statements and declarations made by him on his Facebook page which have been shared widely on other sources.
He indicates the statements below as constituting the conducts being complained of;
“If this E-Levy passes after this Cake bullshit, I will do the coup myself. Useless Army!” [Posted on 9 February 2022].
“Neho! I welcome the news of a military coup in Guinea. Still waiting on confirmation of its success. Hopefully a new transition process is put in place quickly. Guinea shall work again.” [Posted on 5 September 2021].
“I welcome the news of an ongoing coup by the junior ranks just next door in Burkina Faso. I wish the young coup-makers all the best in their struggle.” [Posted on 24 January 2022].
“I welcome the news of an ongoing coup in Guinea Bissau. I want to remind all that in Ghanaian Constitutional Law only successful coups are legal.” [Posted on 1 February 2022].
“Year of Coups. [Posted on 1 February 2022].
The complainant contends that the conduct of Oliver Barker falls below the dignity and standing of the Legal profession specifically rule 1 of the Legal Profession(Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 2020(L.I. 2423).
He is therefore praying the General Legal Council to exercise its powers under section 16 of the Legal Profession Act, 1960(Act 32) and duly strike Mr. Oliver Barker-Vormawor’s name off the Roll of Lawyers or suspend the same from practicing or holding himself as a lawyer for a period fit for the Council.
Background
Convener of the #FixTheCountry pressure Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor was on Monday, February 14, 2022, charged with Treason Felony by an Ashaiman District Court and remanded after being arrested on February 11, 2022, at the Kotoka International Airport upon his return to Ghana from the United Kingdom.
According to a February 12 post by the Ghana Police Service, Oliver was arrested by the “Tema Regional Command following a post he allegedly made on the social media platform to the effect that he would stage a coup himself if the E.Levy Bill is passed by Parliament.”
The Tema High Court has however denied a Habeas corpus application filed by lawyers for Oliver Barker Vormawor.
According to the presiding Judge, Justice Daniel Mensah, in as much as the accused had been presented before a District Court and denied bail, the writ should fail.
