Monrovia – In his two-day visit to the Liberia, the President of the African Bar Association (ABA) Hannibal Uwaifo disclosed that the ABA is looking forward in working with Bar Associations in other African countries including the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) in the protection women and children rights and admonished country’s legal practitioners to practicalize country’s laws.
Report by Kennedy L. Yangian [email protected]
ABA President made the statement Thursday, November 30, 2017 when he paid a visit to offices of several legal entities in the country to include the office of Chief Justice Francis Korkpor, Justice Minister Frederick Cherue the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia and the Law Reform Commission (LRC).
Briefing reporters after the meeting with Chief Justice Francis Korkpor, Cllr. Bima Lansanah Vice President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) stated that Chief Justice Korkpor was very delighted about the visit of ABA President to the country.
According to him, Chief Justice Korkpor called for the enactment of laws that subscribe to African values.
ABA President at the end of the visit to the Chief Justice office proceeded to the office of the Association of the Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) where Its President Atty. Vivian Neal indicated that the legal entity work over the years has been to protect the rights of women, children and that of indigent individuals who cannot afford legal fees.
In remarks, Mr. Uwaifo stated that his visit to the country as guest of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) was to work with the LNBA for the protection of the rights of women and children, adding Liberians should learn to practicalize their laws.
From AFELL’s office, Mr. Uwaifo headed to the office of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) accompanied by the President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) Cllr. Moses Paegar and the Vice President Cllr. Bima Lansanah along with other LNBA Executives who stated that the ABA President visit was based on a communication sent to LNBA to work in the areas of women and children protection.
ABA President Uwaifo said that the ABA intends to work together with other partners in Africa to standardize the African laws.
“The need to practicalize the country’s laws is paramount because children are not to be in street; if that is the case then that means that country’s laws are not effective,” he said.
For his part, the head of LRC, Cllr. Boakai Kanneh, emphasized that the LRC was the key partner in the country’s law reform process as the rule of law was cardinal.
“Our laws should be consistent with our tradition and cultural practices, the Europeans are imposing their laws on us because we are poor,” said Cllr. Kanneh who made reference to such law as the law to legalization of gay rights which is against the cultural and tradition values of Africa.