Kufuor hits back at Kpegah over Akufo-Addo

Ghana’s former President John Agyekum Kufuor has said he will appoint Nana Akufo Addo as Attorney General and Minister of Justice again and again if he had the opportunity to do so.

“As far as President Kufuor is concerned, Nana Akufo Addo is a qualified lawyer and he served him (Kufuor) on that basis…He [Former President Kufuor] does not shy away from it at all…If he had the opportunity, he will do it again”, said Mr Kufuor’s Spokesperson Frank Agyekum in an interview with XYZ News.


Mr Agyekum further noted that: “As far as President Kufuor is concerned, Nana Addo is a highly qualified lawyer [who] practiced not only in Ghana but…[also] abroad and he is acknowledged worldwide as one of the best lawyers we have in Ghana”, adding that: “…I’m surprised [at the suit] because I know there were very many times that Kpegah himself must have dealt with Nana in court in one way or the other”.


Mr Kufuor’s reposition of confidence in the main opposition New Patriotic Party’s 2012 Flagbearer as a competent lawyer of international repute came in the heels of a suit filed against the former Attorney General and Justice Minister by former Acting Chief Justice, Justice F.Y. Kpegah who is challenging Nana Akufo Addo’s qualification as a lawyer.


In the writ filed by the former Supreme Court Justice on Tuesday March 19, 2013, Justice Kpegah indicted former President Kufuor for appointing Nana Akufo Addo to serve as his Chief Legal Advisor while in office between 2001 and 2008.

He averred that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was “impersonating W.A.D Akufo Addo who is on the roll of lawyers as No. 1190”.


Among the seven reliefs being sought by Justice Kpegah is: “A declaration that on a true and proper interpretation of the General Legal Council Act, Act 38 of 1960 (as amended), unless a person is called to the Bar in Ghana and his name entered in the Roll of Lawyers by the body mandated under the said Act 38 (as amended) to regulate the training and certification of persons after a prescribed course of study, that person cannot be deemed competent to practice law in any court of Ghana.”


Beside seeking the High Court to declare Nana Akufo Addo ineligible to practice as a lawyer in Ghana, Justice Kpegah is also praying the court to close down Nana Akufo Addo’s Chambers by declaring that: “The Law Firm established as Akufo-Addo, Prempeh and Co. at 67 Kojo Thompson Road, Adabraka, Accra is an illegal law firm and therefore not competent to represent any party in litigation before any court in Ghana".


Additionally, the former Acting Chief Justice has prayed the Court to put a perpetual injunction on Nana Akufo Addo restraining him from “holding himself out as a lawyer competent to practice in the Ghanaian courts or anybody regarding him as such.”