Justice Akuffo vetting: Lawyers advertising on social media ‘distasteful’

Chief Justice nominee Justice Sophia Akuffo has described as “distasteful”, the practice where lawyers advertise their services on social media.

According to her, touting is frowned upon in the practice and considered an unethical conduct.

Her comments come on the back of the three-year ban slapped on human rights lawyer Fancis-Xavier Sosu by the General Legal Council (GLC) for what it described as violation of advertisement rules and for charging excessive legal fees.

Mr Sosu was accused of advertising on Facebook.

Sharing her opinion on the matter when she appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday, Justice Akuffo said: “If you want my view on advertising on social media, personally, I’m a 67-year-old woman, I’ve been at the bar since 1973/74 and I believe that dignity of the bar is important as dignity of the judiciary. And the idea of lawyers touting themselves on social media is personally distasteful to me, but that aside, the law is clearly against touting because it is considered an improper conduct on the part of the lawyer. Every profession has its rules.”

Instead of advertising on social media, Justice Akuffo suggested “you can have a website and put yourself on your website”.

Meanwhile, Mr Sosu has appealed his ban. He is also seeking a declaration that the charge of touting and personal advertisement levelled against him by the General Legal Council is discriminatory and contrary to Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution and praying the court to quash his three-year ban.

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