Calls for harmonisation of legal regime

Accra, June 30, GNA - The Director of the Ghana Legal Aid Scheme, Mr Al-hassan Yahaya Seini has called for the harmonisation of the legal regime for the assessment and delivering of legal aid.

He said it was therefore essential for the Scheme to be well resourced to ensure justice delivery in the country.


"The Scheme is expected to protect and defend the rights of the low, poor=85 and the vulnerable in the society against infractions by the high, rich, resourceful and powerful," he added.


Mr Seini said the Scheme was committed to provide efficient and effective legal aid service for the enforcement of the 1992 Constitution and for the protection and defence of the human and legal rights of the poor and the needy in the society.


He said to achieve the mission statement of the Scheme, there was the need for awareness creation of its services and make legal and para legal staff available for clients.

The Director said the rural poor depended on the regional offices of the Scheme for justice, especially where there were no courts.


He expressed regret that the unsatisfactory quantity and quality of personnel of the Scheme left it in an equally unsatisfactory state with respect to record keeping and monitoring, evaluation and library facilities.


Mr Seini said the vision of the Scheme was to aspire to be an organisation recognised by the citizenry as a highly efficient and effective professional body working harmoniously with stakeholders in the justice delivery system to achieve a just and equitable society.


He noted that a comprehensive legal aid programme and policy was yet to be developed for implementation throughout the country.