Following the foundation of the Pan African Lawyers Union:(PALU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on September 2002, Bar leaders in West Africa resolved to form a sub-regional Bar Association. This was against the background of similar subregional bar associations that were already in existence in the Northern, Eastern and Southern Africa. At the 8th Biennial Conference of the African Bar Association (ABA), which was held in Abuja, Nigeria from November 13-14, 2002; it was resolved that the ABA be merged with the PALU while a federation of Bar Associations and law societies in the member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) be established. The leaders of the ABA were specially assigned to consult with bar leaders in the sub-regions, the desirability of the proposed Bar Association.
Based on the wide consultations and general acceptability of the proposal by the various national bar associations the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), graciously agreed to provide a grant for the inaugural meeting of bar leaders in West Africa. After some initial hitches the meeting was eventually held in Abuja, Nigeria from August 20-21, 2004. The leaders and representatives of the National Bar Associations of Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Togo, Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria attended the inaugural meeting while bar leaders of Senegal, Cote d'voire, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde and Gambia identified with the foundation of the sub-regional bar associations.
After the opening ceremony of the meeting which was attended by the former President of PALU and Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey, the Executive Director of OSIWA, Dr. Nana Tanko and the then Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of Nigeria, Chief Akin Olujinmi(SAN) the bar leaders unanimously agreed to come together under the platform of the West African Bar Association. A draft constitution was debated and ratified by the participants while a corps of interim officers were elected to co-ordinate the activities of the WABA.
They include: FEMI FALANA- President (Secretary General, African Bar Association); ABDUL KABELE CAMARA- 15th Vice President (President, Guinea Bar Association); PAUL ADU - GYAMFI- 2nd Vice President President, Ghana Bar Association); WAIDI MOUSTAPHA - Secretary General (Acting President, Benin Bar Association); COUNCILOR MARCUS
JONES - Treasurer (President, Liberia Bar Association) and MRS OGUGUA. IKPEZ
| -Deputy Secretary General (Treasurer, Nigerian Bar Association).... |
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