Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh, a Chief State Attorney at the Office of the Attorney-General, has faced significant professional repercussions as the General Legal Council (GLC) has disbarred him from practicing law in Ghana. This drastic measure stems from his involvement in the collection of GH¢400,000 from businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome in 2011.
The Disciplinary Committee of the GLC, responsible for regulating the legal profession, conducted an investigation and found Mr. Nerquaye-Tetteh guilty of professional misconduct under Rule 2(2) of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 1969 (L.I. 613).
In a notice dated January 31, 2024, the GLC outlined that during his defense of the state against a lawsuit filed by Woyome in 2011, Mr. Nerquaye-Tetteh orchestrated the direct transfer of GH¢400,000 from Woyome to the bank account of his wife. Notably, Mr. Nerquaye-Tetteh failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for this transfer of funds into his wife’s account, as per the GLC’s findings.
The GLC expressed grave concern that Mr. Nerquaye-Tetteh’s actions have tarnished the “dignity and high standing of the legal profession.”
“That, he, as a lawyer and a Chief State Attorney, having acted as counsel for the State in the case, Alfred Agbesi Woyome vrs. Attorney General & Anor had an amount of Four Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢400,000.00) transferred directly from Mr Alfred Woyome into the bank account of his wife, Mrs. Gifty Nerquaye-Tetteh without any reasonable explanation; a conduct or act that adversely affects the dignity and high standing of the legal profession,”
“SAMUEL NERQUAYE-TETTEH shall not hold himself out as a lawyer or attend chambers or render or purport to render any professional legal services to the public. The practicing licence of Samuel Nerquaye-Tetteh is hereby withdrawn forthwith,” the notice said.
The notice was signed by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Cynthia Pamela Koranteng.
