President Sirleaf Dedicates Offices of the International Law Group : Monrovia, Liberia - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has reminded Liberian lawyers of their responsibilities to the country and compatriots in the promotion of the rule of law as well as access to justice. President Sirleaf expressed the hope that the newly dedicated institution will serve as an opportunity to Liberians in accessing justice irrespective of their status. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader was speaking Tuesday, June 25, at the formal opening of the offices of the International Law Group (IGL), a 100 percent Liberian-owned law firm established to provide legal services to individuals and corporate institutions. President Sirleaf expressed her delight that Liberians are now seeing the need to compete in every aspect of the economy including the private sector which she has repeatedly described as the engine of growth. She indicated that investing in the private sector has proven to be one of the surest ways of fighting poverty thereby transforming the lives of the ordinary people; though not limited to job creation and capacity-building. The Liberian leader said while government welcomes the initiative and will create the enabling environment, she is hopeful that the law firm’s activities will be measured up to international standard of good practice. “While you protect the rights of your client, please also do it in a balanced way especially in cases that involves the State and those that have a long history behind them. I count on you for that,” President Sirleaf cautioned. She then formally cut the ribbon to the new law firm located on 12th Broad Street which formally hosted the offices of defunct Star Radio below the Ducor Palace Hotel on Snapper Hill, Broad Street. Speaking earlier, a founding partner of the group, Cllr. Fonati Kofa said the idea was conceived in 2011 after he lost the election as a candidate for a legislative seat for Grand Kru County but still desired to contribute to the development of his country especially in the area he was educated - law. He disclosed that Justice Minister Christiana Tah, on behalf of Government, was instrumental in providing the opportunity in the form of legal advice that led to the establishment of the law group. Cllr. Kofa said as part of their work, his group he termed as liberal, will provide services for individual and corporate entities and will at times consult with top lawyers in Liberia whenever there are controversies with clients and opposing sides for redress in the legal framework of said engagement. He named some of the top lawyers as the president of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), Cllrs. Theophilus Gould and Musa Dean who were also in attendance. He assured Justice Minister Tah that efforts applied in the creation of the enabling environment would be returned in fair legal representation of clients, thereby promoting government access to justice policy. The formal opening of the International Law Group was also witnessed by an array of government officials and dignitaries including Foreign Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan, Justice Minister Christiana Tah, Finance Minister Amara Konneh, and Gender & Development Minister Julia Duncan Cassell, Central Bank of Liberia Governor Mills Jones, the Minister of State Without Portfolio Conmany Wesseh, and former presidential candidate of Liberty Party, Cllr. Charles Brumskine, among others.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 16:40:24 +0000