Francis-Xavier Sosu, a renowned human rights lawyer, has been suspended by the General Legal Council for misconducting himself.
He was found guilty of advertising himself on social media and was subsequently banned from practicing as a lawyer for three years.
Rules of the General Legal Council does not permit lawyers in Ghana to undertake any form of advertisement.
A statement issued by the council following its investigation read in part; “The disciplinary committee of the General legal Council formally charged Lawyer Sosu under Rule 2(4) of the legal profession (professional conduct and etiquette) Rules, 1969 L. I. 613 and that he; while acting as Council for Torgbui Afede XIV, in a matter between Torgbui Afede and the Chief of Defense Staff, minister of interior, Attorney General and another took to Facebook with pictures of the parties and comments on the case to the public with his firm’s name, address and telephone numbers attached, with the primary motive of personal advertisement and touting.”
The lawyer who contested but lost the National Democratic Congress parliament primary for Madina was again found guilty of advertising himself in a case he was handling.
“He was further charged under Rule 2 (4) of the legal profession (Professional conduct and etiquette) Rule, 1996 L. I 613 that he; while acting as Counsel for Reynolds Yeboah, in the matter between Patrick Reynolds Yeboah and M.DEX company Limited in Accra, Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly, Accra,Ghana, took to Facebook posting the writ of summons in the said case and made comments to the public with the firm’s name, address and telephone numbers attached, with the primary motive of personal advertisement,” the statement pointed out.
According to the statement, “Lawyer Sosu was convicted on his own plea of guilty on both counts and was sentenced to a period of three (3) years suspension commencing 2nd day of June, 2017 and ending 1st day of June, 2020. He is to be mentored by a senior and for a period of one year commencing 2nd June,2020 and ending 1st June 2021. The senior to mentor him shall lodge periodic reports on him to the general legal council’s disciplinary committee at the end of every month during the mentorship”.
His sentences would run concurrently, the General Legal Council statement noted, adding, “during the period of suspension, he shall not hold himself out as a legal practitioner or attend chambers, or render, or purport to render and professional legal service to any person whomsoever, wheresoever”.
Mr. Sosu has been involved in some key human rights cases including the release of Charles Antwi jailed for plotting to kill former president John Mahama and has been a leading advocate for the Justice for All programme that has succeeded in helping tens of remand prisoners released.
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