Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, Chief State Attorney at the Office of the Attorney-General, got expelled as a lawyer by the General Legal Council (GLC) for a financial deal with businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome. This means he can’t practice law in Ghana anymore, as the GLC found him guilty of professional misconduct.
The GLC’s Disciplinary Committee, regulating the legal profession, decided this after finding Nerquaye-Tetteh in violation of Rule 2(2) of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 1969 (L.I. 613). In 2011, while representing the state in a lawsuit filed by Woyome, he oversaw the direct transfer of GH¢400,000 from Woyome to his wife’s bank account.
Expressing concern over his failure to explain the fund transfer, the GLC, in a letter dated January 31, 2024, deemed his conduct detrimental to the “dignity and high standing of the legal profession.”
The GLC’s notice prohibits Nerquaye-Tetteh from presenting himself as a lawyer, attending chambers, or providing professional legal services. His practicing license was promptly withdrawn, emphasizing the severity of his expulsion. Judicial secretary Justice Cynthia Pamela Koranteng signed the notice on January 31, reinforcing its validity.
This expulsion raises questions about the integrity of professionals in Ghana’s legal system, emphasizing the need for accountability and ethical behavior. The impact will be felt not only by Nerquaye-Tetteh but also within the legal community, stressing the commitment to maintaining high standards of professionalism.
