Legal Aid eyes 24-hour legal support under Government’s economic policy

The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Service, Edmond Folie, has announced plans to align the agency’s operations with the government’s 24-Hour Economy policy, aiming to improve access to justice—particularly for vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Speaking at the Greater Accra Law Week conference on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Mr. Folie revealed that the Legal Aid Service is exploring the creation of a 24-hour legal call centre, which would allow Ghanaians to reach lawyers at any time for legal advice and assistance.

He stressed that such a system would significantly ease access to justice, especially for the poor, women, and other underserved groups who often face logistical or systemic barriers when seeking legal redress.

Highlighting Ghana’s recent passage of the Affirmative Action Act, Mr. Folie reaffirmed the Legal Aid Service’s commitment to gender equality and to advancing the rights of women under the Maputo Protocol—Africa’s landmark charter for the protection of women's rights.

To mark Legal Aid Week in October 2025, the Service will launch a targeted campaign to extend legal assistance to women who typically struggle to access justice, either due to cost, distance, or lack of legal awareness.

Mr. Folie also praised the Greater Accra Bar Association for supporting the initiative and called on stakeholders—legal professionals, civil society, and the government—to partner in the shared mission of creating a more inclusive and responsive justice system.

By embedding legal aid services into the broader framework of the 24-hour economy, he said, Ghana has the opportunity to not only modernise its legal support infrastructure but also build a society where justice truly works for all—day or night.