The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has appealed to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie to ensure that established practices governing the legal vacation are respected.
The Association said it had received complaints from three law firms after lawyers were served with notices requiring them to appear before specific judges to continue with part-heard criminal cases during the legal vacation.
The affected firms are Zoe, Akyea & Co, Dame & Partners and Sam Okudzeto & Associates.
In a letter dated Monday, August 10, 2026, the GBA said the second legal vacation runs from August 1 to September 30 under Order 79, Rule 4 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (CI 47).
It said the vacation is intended to provide judges, lawyers and judicial staff with a period of rest following the demanding second term of the legal year.
The Association acknowledged that certain courts are designated as Vacation Courts to deal with urgent matters during the period.
However, it said such courts traditionally handle interlocutory and emergency matters and do not conduct trials.
The GBA also said the availability of lawyers is an important consideration when matters are listed during the legal vacation.
It argued that where counsel for either side is unavailable, the case should not proceed.
The Association further said an accused person should not be forced to represent themselves because their lawyer is unavailable during the legal vacation.
“Innocent parties in a trial, civil or criminal ought not be coerced by a Judge to represent themselves,” it said.
The GBA warned that proceeding with cases despite the unavailability of counsel could create concerns about bias or selective justice.
It also cited the increased workload on lawyers following the introduction of afternoon court sittings.
The Association said some lawyers already have professional commitments during the vacation, while some law firms have closed for the period.
It urged the Judiciary to uphold the rules and established traditions surrounding legal vacations.
The GBA said it remains committed to working with the Judiciary to improve justice delivery and expressed confidence that the petitions would be considered favourably.
