The Attorney-General (AG), Godfred Dame, has called on members of the legal fraternity to uphold the principle of open justice in Ghana.

Speaking at the Annual Conference of the Ghana Bar Association, Mr Dame emphasized that transparency in legal proceedings is crucial for maintaining public trust and ensuring that the judiciary operates fairly and effectively.

He further urged lawyers and judges to ensure that court proceedings are conducted in a manner that allows for public scrutiny.

According to the AG, while certain cases may require discretion due to their sensitive nature, the default position should be openness and accountability.

He stressed that judges should not be seen as adversaries of the people or the government. Rather, their role is to balance the restraint of power with the support of rightful government actions.

Mr Dame acknowledged that while the United States Supreme Court does not permit full live telecasts of its proceedings, Ghana has made commendable strides in this area.

"Our Judiciary must embrace the concept of open justice by publishing and explaining decisions and by allowing access to the courts – in person and through broadcasts. It is for this reason that I am proud to state that as Attorney-General, I have led in this quest of ensuring open justice in Ghana as a way of dispelling misconceptions, misinterpretations and misrepresentations of court decisions by making formal applications to the Chief Justice for live broadcast of particular court proceedings of overwhelming public interest," he added.