The Acting Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has expressed grave concern over the increasing incidence of ethical misconduct among legal practitioners, highlighting a recent case involving a lawyer accused of stealing a colleague’s mobile phone at the Tema Court.

According to Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, the lawyer in question even participated in the search for the missing phone, feigning ignorance, until he was caught attempting to sell the stolen device.

Speaking at the commissioning of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School Moot Court on Monday, July 21, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie emphasized the need for stronger systems to prepare students for the ethical demands of the legal profession.

“Just as you feel disgusted by students dressing shabbily to come to school, you must be wondering how a lawyer manages to pass through the school. I happen to be the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council, and the sort of infractions and ethical breaches that appear before us make you wonder where the world is heading,” he remarked.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie urged legal education institutions to not only focus on academic excellence but also instill strong ethical values to safeguard the integrity of the profession.