Ghana Bar Association President Efua Ghartey says newly called lawyers who hire videographers to film their first court appearances risk disciplinary action.

Published 5 Nov 2026, 19:33 GMT

3 min read

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) President, Efua Ghartey.

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Ghana Bar Association (GBA) President Efua Ghartey has warned newly enrolled lawyers to stop hiring videographers or filming their first entries into courtrooms, saying the practice breaches professional decorum and could trigger disciplinary action.

Speaking in a video address published by Graphic Online on Thursday, November 5, GBA President Efua Ghartey said the bar leadership had taken note of clips showing new counsel recording their maiden steps into court.

"We've seen some people take videos of their fresh legal steps into court. Please, it is not allowed," Ghartey said.

"So please don't find a videographer to follow you as you enter the courtroom. It is not allowed."

While noting that senior members of the bar welcomed the excitement of the newest cohort, she said staging camera crews at court doors went beyond acceptable conduct.

"As seniors, we are enjoying what is going on, but some people have crossed the line, and we don't want to start calling for disciplinary matters," she added.

Viral post-Call videos and the October enrolment

Ghartey's caution follows a wave of social media videos posted by junior counsel in the weeks after the 63rd Call to the Bar ceremony on Friday, October 9, 2026.

At that ceremony at the ICGC Christ Temple in Accra, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie enrolled 1,568 newly qualified lawyers onto the Roll of Lawyers.

Courtroom recording and ethics rules

Although Ghartey did not cite a specific statutory instrument by number in her brief remarks, she underscored the long-standing prohibition on unauthorised filming inside court premises and the duty to protect the sanctity of judicial proceedings.

In Ghana, cameras and recording devices are barred inside courtrooms and their immediate precincts without the express leave of the court.

Professional ethics for practitioners are enforced by the General Legal Council (GLC) under the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32) and the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 2020 (L.I. 2423).

Under L.I. 2423, including Rule 15 on solicitation, lawyers are prohibited from touting, self-promotion or personal advertising calculated to attract legal business, and from conduct that diminishes the dignity of the legal profession — infractions that can bring a lawyer before the GLC's Disciplinary Committee.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

GBA President Efua Ghartey warns newly enrolled lawyers against filming court entrances

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