The Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs has concluded a series of familiarization visits to key institutions under the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General Department (MOJAGD), fulfilling its oversight responsibilities as mandated by the Standing Orders of Parliament. The visits aimed to assess the operational challenges faced by these bodies and to foster a collaborative working relationship between the legislature and the legal sector.
The committee’s tour included stops at the Ghana School of Law, the Office of the Registrar of Companies, and the Law Reforms Commission. At the Ghana School of Law, the committee was given a tour of the premises by Director Nana Justice Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong. He highlighted a number of critical issues hindering the institution’s effectiveness. These challenges include the urgent need to upgrade facilities that have been in use for decades, a limited number of permanent lecturers, and the need for staff promotions and salary increases. These issues, if left unaddressed, could impact the quality of legal education and the morale of the teaching staff.
The committee also met with officials from the Office of the Registrar of Companies and the Law Reforms Commission. The Acting Director of the Office of the Registrar of Companies, Mrs. Maame Samar Peprah, and her team identified several obstacles to productivity. These included the need to develop a new application for smoother operations, ongoing insolvency issues, poor security, and inadequate staffing levels. At the Law Reforms Commission, Acting Executive Director Mr. Mark Ziwu and his team outlined their specific needs, requesting a cross-country vehicle, stable internet access, laptops, and printers to enhance their operational capacity.
Vice Chairman of the Committee, James Enu, provided assurance to all the institutions that their concerns would be given due attention by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General. He committed to doing “everything possible to support these institutions and foster good working relationships.” The committee’s proactive engagement and pledge to address these issues signal a parliamentary commitment to strengthening the nation’s legal and institutional framework for improved justice delivery and governance.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
