Abstract
Due to the high cost of hiring an attorney, it has been difficult for the impoverished to access justice. This has led to the realization of the necessity for legal aid in enhancing disadvantaged, excluded, and poor populations' access to justice. The purpose of this research was to determine how legal aid schemes in Ghana's Ashanti Region provide legal aid services to meet their clients' legal needs and uphold social justice. The claims made in this study are supported theoretically by the justice theory, vertical equity theory, and access rights theory. In terms of methodology, this study used a case study approach with three institutions and 45 respondents from the Kumasi metropolis. These were the Legal Aid Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education, and the Social Welfare Department. These institutions were interviewed using an interview guide. Data from the residents of the Kumasi metropolis were collected using both the questionnaire and the interview guide. The research was conducted in the Kumasi metropolis. The sampling of the institutions was purposive. However, the sampling of the residents was done randomly. Thematic analysis was used. A majority of the respondents were aware of their right to legal aid but generally, there is a low demand for legal aid services due to financial challenges the and insincerity of the legal aid personnel. To promote legal aid services, the Ministry of Justice or LAS should set up a comprehensive electronic tracking system to enable accurate monitoring of civil cases at all state and non-state institutions. The NCCE should also organize outreach activities or create platforms purposely to educate the public on their right to legal aid and encourage them to seek legal assistance.
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