The Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo has lauded the introduction of a book on the practice of Notaries Public in Ghana.
She said it will help bring clarity to the practice of the profession.
Justice Torkornoo said this in an address delivered by a Superior Court Judge, His Lordship Justice Richard Apietu, at the launch of a book titled “NOTARIES PUBLIC PRACTICE IN GHANA – The Law, Cases and Materials” on March 27.
In the context of Ghana, a notary public, appointed by the Chief Justice, is a public officer authorized by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters, often involving financial transactions, estates, deeds, and international business, and to attest to signatures and execute documents.
The 1,514-paged book is authored by a legal practitioner and researcher, Daniel Yaw Abaidoo.
Delivering the Keynote address on behalf of the Chief Justice, His Lordship Richard Apietu said, “This is a welcome addition to the evolving and growing number of treatises on legal practice and procedural practice informed by Ghanaian jurisprudence. It is the first of its kind by an author within our jurisdiction, contextualized on Ghana jurisprudence, and informed by the standards and requirements of global notarial practice. The book is an answer to dispel any confused conceptions on the work of the NOTARY in our jurisdiction. It will help to dispel doubts, and to inform and educate the legal fraternity of the broad scope of the practices of the notary.”
According to him, “What is noticeable in the landscape of legal scholarship is the absence of a book contextualized and dedicated to the practice of the notary in Ghana. Despite a vital increase of local authors who have written and expounded on various aspects of law, responding to our burgeoning socio-economic, political and constitutional experience, the absence of a book on notarial practice in the Ghanaian legal system landscape is a lacuna that has been crying to be filled. And I am delighted that the author has labored to fill this vacuum.”
The book offers a good opportunity to access easily and readily in the developments of the notarial practice and profession, the relevant law, judicial pronouncements and relevant materials impinging upon the notary practice regime.
His Lordship Richard Apietu further underscored the relevance of the book.
“It will serve as a resource and a guide in the professional development of law students and practitioners, notably in the areas of property law, conveyancing, wills, probate and administration, law of evidence, civil procedure, commercial and company law practice; to provide guidance in promoting professional discipline, conduct and ethics, and how to assure credibility and integrity in the drafting and execution of legal and other documents to render them valid for admissibility etc,” he stated.
He commended the author for the good work done, “His leadership in providing the first comprehensive book on the notary’s public practice within our jurisdiction is also to be commended. I look forward to the active use of this book as a reference source, and a handbook for many. And to all the anticipated users, this book is unreservedly recommended.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the author, Mr Yaw Abaidoo, said he conceived the idea of writing on the subject about 5 years ago.
“It has been inspired largely by the following factors: (i) my personal growing interest in the subject matter of Notaries Public, my personal
inordinate quest to understand the subject, the ambit of its practice and their role in the Ghanaian judicial system; (ii) the need to contribute to our understanding of the applicable legal regime, regulations and requirements impinging upon the notary public practice;” he explained.
Mr Abaidoo added that he also wrote the book in “the quest to provide guidance to notaries public practitioners, commissioners for oaths, administrators of the law- judges and magistrates, court registrars, conveyancers, lawyers, teachers and students of the law, and lay people who seek the services of notaries; and (iv) my innate desire to provide an orientation reference tool for professionals seeking to be enrolled as notaries public for purposes of assuring standards, and to promote professionalism, ethics and competence.”
The first copy was sold for GH₵20,000, with other copies going for GH₵10,000, GH₵5,000, and GH₵3,000.
The book was published by Icon Publishing.
In his speech, the author commended the publishers led by Mr Dan Odei.
“The Publishers, Icon Publishing acting by the CEO, Mr. Dan Odei, deserve special mention. I am thankful for their partnership, and the deep sense of healthy mutual understanding and cooperation between them and my team and myself as the Author,”he said.
