Parliament approves GH¢40.26 million for Legal Aid Commission
Parliament has approved GH¢40,260,520 for the operations of the Legal Aid Commission in the 2025 financial year.
The allocation is aimed at strengthening the commission’s ability to provide free legal services to the poor and vulnerable, ensuring equal access to justice for all.
Challenges
Presenting the Parliamentary, Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee’s report on the floor of Parliament ahead of the approval, the Chairperson of the committee, Alhaji Mahama Shaibu, highlighted the financial and operational challenges the commission continued to face despite its elevation to full commission status.
“The indigent in Ghana still need access to justice, and cost-effective legal services have been one of the key things we have advocated,” he said.
Alhaji Shaibu, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Daboya-Mankarigu in the Savannah Region said the commission was currently handling over 6,000 pending cases, reflecting the rising demand for Legal Aid services.
He lamented that many Ghanaians facing legal issues could not afford legal representation, leaving them without the support needed to defend themselves in court.
That, he explained, often led to wrongful convictions or prolonged legal battles, with some individuals ending up incarcerated despite their innocence.
Alhaji Shaibu said the Legal Aid Commission played a critical role in addressing those injustices by providing free legal services to the underprivileged.
He, however, stressed that without adequate funding, the commission struggled to manage the increasing caseload, denying many access to justice.
“Ensuring sufficient financial support for the commission is essential to protecting the rights of the vulnerable and ensuring fair treatment for all under the law,” he emphasised.
He further stated that the approved budget fell short of fully meeting the commission’s needs.
“The committee strongly recommends that the Ministry of Finance provides additional funding in a supplementary budget to address the deficiencies in the current allocation,” he stated.
Resource constraints
Alhaji Shaibu recalled that the Legal Aid Commission, previously an agency, was granted full commission status to enhance its independence and mandate in providing legal representation for individuals who could not afford lawyers.
However, he said, resource constraints continued to affect its ability to efficiently handle cases and expand its services.
Despite those challenges, he expressed cautious optimism, stating that while the approved budget was insufficient, it offered some relief to the commission.
“Thankfully, the estimates and budget for the year give some room and hope,” he added.
