Lawyers wearing gown, wig in ‘hot weather’ Ghana shows colonial mentality – Gyampo

Lecturer at the University of Ghana Political Science Department, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, has added his voice to concerns on the dress code for lawyers in Ghana.

There have been concerns over the wearing of a gown, and wig by the BAR in Ghana.

In a recent interview with Accra-based Metro TV, President of the Ghana BAR Association, Anthony Forson, indicated that members of the BAR approved accepted the dress code in 2017 when it was raised at the BAR conference.

He believes that it’s important lawyers have a dress code because it brings about order and decorum in the courtroom.

The Lawyer said he will vote for it if it’s introduced at the BAR conference because that is what identifies Lawyers from others in the courtroom.

But reacting to this, Prof Ransford Gyampo indicated that it’s high time leaders in Ghana put on their innovative lenses and change the status-quo.

He believes even if the wearing of a wig and gown was inherited from Ghana’s colonial masters, there is the need for careful consideration considering the weather conditions that present itself in Ghana.

His post shared on Facebook read, “Whiles those who introduced it in their cold-weather are relaxing and almost scrapping it, see what we are doing to ourselves even in our very hot humid weather. Just compare. Not the judiciary alone, leaders must be revolutionary, challenging the status-quo and initiating new ideas and ways of doing things. The fact that we inherited it as a colonial legacy doesn’t mean we cannot challenge it”.