Former Attorney General and former Ghana High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ayikoi Otoo, has criticised the decision to compel lawyers to appear in court during the legal vacation, describing the practice as unfair and something that should only happen in exceptional circumstances. According to Mr Otoo, while the High Court rules may give the Chief Justice the authority to issue directions concerning court sittings during the legal vacation, such powers should be exercised sparingly and with regard to established legal practice. "We are entitled to go and rest and come after the legal vacation. This follows complaints from three law firms regarding notices directing their lawyers to appear before judges to continue hearing part-heard criminal cases during the current legal vacation. But the Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie rejected the position that lawyers can decline to proceed with cases simply because they have been scheduled during the legal vacation.