Lawyer shortages limit Legal Aid Commission’s expansion – Executive Director

The Legal Aid Commission says staffing shortages are limiting its ability to expand its operations and extend legal services to more communities across the country.

Executive Director of the Commission, Edmund Amarkwei Foley, disclosed that the institution currently has about 186 staff, including approximately 44 lawyers, to provide legal assistance nationwide.

Speaking on Channel One TV's A Question of Law, Mr Foley said the staffing situation had forced management to be cautious about opening new offices.

“We have been, as management of the commission, we have been careful not to open new offices because of our staffing constraints,” he said.

He attributed the shortage partly to staff losses through deaths, resignations and retirements, resulting in vacancies that need to be filled.

According to Mr Foley, each district office requires a minimum of five personnel comprising an administrator, two mediators and two lawyers.

The Commission currently operates in 45 of Ghana's 261 districts and has a presence in 10 of the 16 regions.

He cited the Upper West Region as an example of the staffing challenge, noting that only one staff lawyer is currently responsible for handling both criminal and civil cases across the entire region.

Mr Foley said the Commission also relies on volunteer lawyers to help meet the growing demand for its services.

He added that management was considering the introduction of mobile legal aid clinics as an alternative means of reaching communities where the Commission has limited or no physical presence.