Lawyer Francis Sosu banned for advertising on Facebook

Popular Human Rights lawyer Francis-Xavier Sosu has been banned from practicing as a lawyer for a total of three years, a statement by the General Legal Council has said.

The lawyer was investigated and found guilty of professional misconduct by the GLC.

“The disciplinary committee of the General legal Council formally charged Lawyer Sosu under Rule 2(4) of the legal profession (professional conduct and etiquette) Rules, 1969 L.I. 613 and that he; while acting as Council for Torgbui Afede XIV, in a matter between Torgbui Afede and the Chief of Defense Staff, minister of interior, Attorney General and another took to Facebook with pictures of the parties and comments on the case to the public with his firm’s name, address and telephone numbers attached, with the primary motive of personal advertisement and touting,” portions of the statement said.

It added: "He was further charged under Rule 2 (4) of the legal profession (Professional conduct and etiquette) Rule, 1996 L.I 613 that he; while acting as Counsel for Reynolds Yeboah, in the matter between Patrick Reynolds Yeboah and M.DEX company Limited in Accra, Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly, Accra,Ghana, took to Facebook posting the writ of summons in the said case and made comments to the public with the firm’s name, address and telephone numbers attached, with the primary motive of personal advertisement

It noted: “Lawyer Sosu was convicted on his own plea of guilty on both counts and was sentenced to a period of three years suspension commencing June 2,2017 and ending 1st day of June,2020. He is to be mentored by a senior and for a period of one year commencing 2nd June,2020 and ending 1st June 2021. The senior to mentor him shall lodge periodic reports on him to the general legal council’s disciplinary committee at the end of every month during the mentorship”.

Sosu has been involved in several high profile human rights cases in the country including the case of Charles Antwi, the man who attempted to shoot former President John Mahama at church.

He also served as council for a teacher who was sentenced for several years for a crime he did not commit.