Call Ceremony in Ghana
Posted on October 1, 2010 1 Comment
I arrived in Ghana last night and was lucky to have been reserved a V.V.I.P. ticket to attend the Call Ceremony of the newest lawyers in Ghana. On this day, one hundred and ninety eight (198) lawyers were admitted to practise law in Ghana. I could not miss this ceremony for obvious reasons. I had friends who were being called to the Bar. I watched as these newly admitted lawyers walked around with their families in their brand new wigs, collar, bands and gowns. I then thought to myself “I have done this on two occasions – England and Wales and New York”.
The ceremony was held in the Banquet Hall of the State House. In attendance were the Chief Justice – Georgina Woode, Attorney General and Minister of Justice – Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrissu, MP for Subin – Hon. Isaac Osei, Paapa Owusu Ankomah, Lord Justices of the Superior and other courts, prominent members of the Bar amongst other distinguish ladies and gentlemen.
The Chief Justice encouraged the newly admitted lawyers to commit some of their valuable time to pro bono, to uphold the integrity of the legal profession and to focus on legal practice as opposed to going for just money. She took the opportunity to advise the newly admitted lawyers to help fight the problem of corruption affecting the legal profession. Finally, she encouraged them to consider a career on the Bench.
It was a beautiful ceremony and I wish all the newly admitted lawyers all the best in their respective careers.
Smarter immigration controls pledge
Posted on September 6, 2010 Leave a Comment
Immigration minister Damian Green is expected to promise “smarter” controls on entry to the UK when he releases research showing that tens of thousands of people admitted on student visas were still in the country five years later.
In his first major speech since the coalition Government took office, Mr Green will acknowledge that the annual cap on economic migrants from outside the EU will not be enough on its own to deliver the target of reducing net immigration to the tens of thousands.
He will also promise to look at “all routes into the UK” and set new rules to ensure that only the “brightest and best” migrants enter the country to study and work. Priority will also be given to improving controls over foreign students and their dependants, more than 300,000 of whom were granted visas last year. Read More
Immigration limit for Tier 1 (General) of the points-based system
Posted on August 23, 2010 Leave a Comment
19 July 2010
From 19 July 2010, there are two important changes for migrants making initial applications under Tier 1 (General) of the points-based system:
- the introduction of an interim limit for Tier 1 (General) applications made outside the UK, for the period until 31 March 2011; and
- an increase in the number of points required for an initial Tier 1 (General) application, from 95 to 100. Read More
New versions of application forms and guidance for points-based system applicants
Posted on August 23, 2010 Leave a Comment
06 August 2010
On 30 July 2010, the UK Border Agency published new versions of the following application forms under the points-based system:
- Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
- Tier 1 (Investor)
- Tier 1 (Post-study work)
- Tier 2 (all categories)
- Tier 4 (Child)
- Tier 5 (Temporary worker)
- dependants of points-based system applicants
- Change of circumstances
These forms, which refer to biometric residence permits instead of identity cards for foreign nationals, are for use fromĀ 31 July 2010. Read More
Refusals based on the points-based system’s maintenance (funds) requirement
Posted on August 23, 2010 Leave a Comment
23 July 2010
If you have been refused permission to enter or stay in the UK (known as ‘entry clearance’ and ‘leave to remain’) solely because you failed to meet the maintenance (funds) requirement of your points-based system application, you may wish to request a review of your case. Read More