Ho, Oct. 02, GNA - The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) is to discipline members who contravene the association's code of ethics. Members to be disciplined are those who overcharge and mishandle accounts of their clients, discussion of pending cases in the media and bad legal advice.

Mr Solomon Kwami Tetteh, GBA National President announced this when addressing the 2006/2007 Conference of the association under the theme "The Role of the Bar in Nation Building" at Ho on Monday. During the five-day conference, lectures would be delivered on operations of the Commercial Courts, the Bar, Nation and the International Community.

He said the association, regarded as the leading association of Lawyers in West Africa, had to deal with complaints of professional misconduct, which were disturbing.

"All kinds of characters are in midst, startling habits and conducts have emerged. We must convince the wrongdoers in our midst to change and if they fail to change we will coerce them to do so. The long arm of discipline must reach them," Mr Tetteh added. He said it was significant that when Ghana was preparing to mark her 50th anniversary next year, the Bar reviewed "its role and contribution over the years towards nation building and adopt new strategies for an enhanced role and contribution."

Mr Tetteh said the Bar would continue to uphold and defend freedom and justice in Ghana as well as facilitate the protection of human rights and freedoms of the people.

In addition, he said the association would continue to pursue programmes that would sharpen the legal skills and maintain high professional standards of members.

He announced that a Bar Centre, with Broadband Services would be established soon in addition to a website of the Bar with a list of members of good standing.

Mr Justice W.A Atuguba, a Supreme Court Judge who represented the Chief Justice observed that lawyers had high stakes in upholding tenets of the constitution and must be bold and fearless. Mr Joe Nana Ghartey, Attorney General and Minister of Justice invited members of the Bar to work with the legislature on their own volition.

Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister asked members to remain watchdogs of democracy and protect the down trodden.