Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Builsa North, James Agalga, has urged parliamentary legal counsels across Africa to uphold professional integrity and provide independent, rigorous and ethical legal advice to strengthen legislative governance.
He made the call at the opening ceremony of the 8th Africa Colloquium of Legal Counsel to Parliaments, held at the Accra City Hotel under the theme, “Ethics, Integrity & Legal Accountability.”
Speaking on behalf of the Majority Caucus and Parliament of Ghana, Mr Agalga welcomed parliamentary legal counsels from across Africa to Accra, describing Ghana’s hosting of the colloquium as a privilege.
He highlighted the progress made since the establishment of the Nairobi Principles in 2011, noting that the Office of Parliamentary Legal Counsel had evolved from an experimental reform into an indispensable institution for effective legislative governance.
According to him, the development underscores the importance of strengthening legal advisory services within parliamentary institutions to promote constitutional compliance and improve the quality of legislation.
Mr Agalga also rejected the perception that the Executive and Majority Caucus view independent parliamentary legal counsel with apprehension.
He argued that effective governance requires legal advisers who can subject proposed legislation to rigorous technical scrutiny, identify constitutional weaknesses and recommend improvements to legislative language.
“What the Majority requires, and what the national interest demands, is counsel capable of subjecting legislation to rigorous technical scrutiny, identifying constitutional vulnerabilities candidly, and improving legislative language so that it can withstand judicial scrutiny,” he said.
He stressed that legal certainty, institutional stability and respect for the law were essential foundations for effective governance.
The Majority Leader maintained that independent legal advice should be regarded as an asset to Parliament and the Executive because it helps ensure that legislation meets constitutional standards and withstands judicial scrutiny.
Addressing the need for institutional continuity, Mr Agalga said the Parliamentary Service remained a critical anchor of constitutional stability, regardless of changes in government or parliamentary majorities.
He called for parliamentary workplaces to be safe, modern, inclusive and conducive to professional excellence.
He further emphasised that parliamentary legal counsels must be protected from intimidation, harassment, discrimination and burnout to enable them to perform their duties effectively.
Mr Agalga also welcomed the formal inauguration of the Colloquium Women Forum, describing it as an important step towards promoting gender equality and professional development among female parliamentary legal practitioners.
He observed that legislative excellence could not be fully achieved if structural barriers continued to limit women’s participation and advancement in the legal profession.
He expressed support for initiatives focused on mentorship, professional equality and leadership development for women working in parliamentary legal services.
In his concluding remarks, the Majority Leader charged parliamentary legal counsels to remain fearless in their technical assessments, safeguard their professional integrity and provide advice that is independent, rigorous and ethical.
He urged them to ensure that their work remained firmly rooted in the aspirations of African people and the principles of constitutional governance.
