The renowned human right lawyer, who also double as a Member of Parliament (MP) of Madina Constituency Francis Xavier Sosu in partnership with Atuguba & Associate Law Firm and Centre for Practical Multidisciplinary Legal Education and Training (CPMLET) of University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) launched an initiative dubbed “ community legal clinic ‘’to respond to many legal issues and needs of his constituents and offer practical experience to law students as well.
The MP indicated that, the recent 2021 budget details revealed only forty lawyers with legal Aid in the whole Ghana, with less than ten thousand lawyers in Ghana , bringing a a ratio of about One lawyer to three thousand people in Ghana.
He mentioned that this motivated him to organize the legal clinic to provide a platform for people who need legal aid services, to be assisted by professionals and seasoned lawyers.
The program also seeks to also assist law students form University of Ghana and UPSA to have a practical experience on the field by interacting and assisting people with legal issues people in the community.
He called on government to as a matter of urgency increase access to law school which has been retrogression and discriminatory against article 18 of the 1992 Constitution .He further intimated that, this is the reason why he introduced the legal clinic to offer free legal services to people.
Francis Xavier Sosu stated that, acess to law school is deterioratory and discriminatory against article 18 of the 1992 Constitution. He called on government as a matter of urgency to ensure equal acess and opportunity to education including access to law school as enshrined as a right in the 1992 Constitution as a right of every Ghanaian citizen.
Members of the community were allowed to engaged in a one on one discussion with lawyers to seek legal advise and assistance as well.
Professor Raymond Atuguba Dean at the faculty of University School of Law and partner of Atuguba & Associates mentioned every aspect of the human life is governed by law.
His firm decided to partner with FX Law to reach out to people in Madina Constituency to interact with them and find out thier concerns on law related issue as well as assist individuals who qualify for free legal Aid Services.
He called on all stakeholders and entities of the law to be committed and provide legal education to people and offer free legal services when necessary.
Godwin Adawenine Dean of Center for Practical Multidisciplinary Legal Education and Training at the University of Professional Studies Accra opined that, the essence of the community legal clinic is to help broaden the knowledge of law student and have practical understanding of legal issues and impart their knowledge as well.
He added the partnership with the FX Law Firm and Atuguba & Associates law firm will help provide the community with lawyering services.
Such issues of inheritance , road title regulations : an individual right on the street , landlord and Tenants Issues, law on protection of privacy on the internet in Ghana, employment and Labour law in Ghana, interstate successions law, making of wills, especially in times of COVID-19 for people to organize their life’s well before departing from the world .
He further revealed that, people have issues of legal nature and need the help of lawyers. Added his firm will assist those who qualify for legal Aid services. Added his firm will reach out to most communities across the country to render legal Aid service to people.
He encouraged all law firms, stakeholders and entities to be committed and work together to provide legal education and services to people when necessary.
6. OTUBUAH mentioned that, legal issues are important since everything God created is governed by law. applauded SOSU for such initiative by offering legal education to the people of PANTANG and ready to offer free legal services to the people of PANTANG and MADINA Constituency as well. Added PANTANG has a whole lot of legal issues .
He quizzed which judgment gave the AFUTU BREMPONG family power to acquire government land such as PANTANG Hospital. He complained that, judgement always goes to the wrong people.
He revealed his submission to the court which were all tendered but the judge mentioned, he could not read their submission. He called on the Greater ACCRA Regional Minister to demolish unauthorized structures in PANTANG hospital land since the AFUTU BREMPONG FAMILY has no land in PANTANG..He revealed that, on the 8th of August, there will be a stakeholders durbar at PANTANG to discuss issues affecting the community.
7. It was observed that, Community members who participated in the program were allowed a one on one interaction with legal to advise and help them in legal issues.
