Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) is relying on past glory.

According to him, the Bar seems to be on a long “hiatus”, especially with its handling of cases in the country, which he deems “prejudicial”, coupled with comments made by President Akufo-Addo and the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, on the Gyakye Quayson trial.

In light of this, Mr Ablakwa stated that the Ghana Bar Association, which he agrees with many, has “derelicted” and has not been the bar association Ghanaians look up to. However, he revealed that he has heard the GBA general secretary has condemned the President’s statements and also heard many analysts voice out that the President’s comment was totally unacceptable.

“Growing up, the associations that inspired us and that made some of us as young people set our eyes on activism was because of NUGS and GBA… So, NUGS and GBA, how they stood up to tyrannies, stood up to autocracies and stood up for the vulnerable, they were the voice of the voiceless… We have also been inspired by those great leaders of GBA and NUGS of old. In recent times, it appears that the GBA has been really relying on past glory…”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Furthermore, Mr Ablakwa stated that following the pronouncements made against Gyakye Quayson, the minority leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, served notice that the current happening with the criminal case is “clear persecution and not prosecution”. As such, the minority has decided to stand up to defend their colleague.

“I must emphasize that parliamentary boycotts and walk-outs are all democratic tools available to members of parliament, either as a collective or as individual… Having said that, the only way we will back down is when the persecution ends…”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Minority members being persecuted by ruling government

Elaborating on reasons for describing the trial as “persecution”, Mr Ablakwa explained that the Attorney General can file a nolle prosequi to discontinue the case. He indicated that this wouldn’t be the first time because nolle prosequis have been filed in so many cases in recent times, and “cases that we all felt strongly that they should not have even filed those cases”.

“I recall the Aisha Huang matter as an instance case. There was absolutely no reason, we are not convinced, even after listening to the senior minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, who tried to explain that really, they were expecting some bilateral benefits from relations with China… Subsequently, we all know that Aisha Huang, they claimed she was deported…”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Following this, the North Tongu legislator highlighted that the trial of Gyakye Quayson has a tradition and a long history of political persecution. Citing the case of lawyer, Tsatsu Tsikata’s case some years ago, he noted that the Supreme Court in its ruling resolved that the “incarceration was a travesty of justice, and that all of those proceedings should be expunged”.

“There has been a history and a pattern, so when we talk about political persecution, we know what we are talking about. Particularly when the President has said this, when you’ve heard the Attorney General has said himself that he (Quayson) is going to jail, why is he even going to contest, it’s not a national assignment. An outburst which was very prejudicial and I’m glad that Tsatsu Tsikata again has filed a specific application against the Attorney General for those prejudicial statements.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Furthermore, Mr Ablakwa underscored that senior ministers such as “comical” K.T Hammond has also in the past been “raving and ranting all over the place, totally unhinged” suggesting Mr Quayson will go to jail. With this, he questioned what the government knows that the minority is oblivious to.

“… What is happening in our judiciary? What they are doing, how do the judges feel? We are clear in our minds that this persecution cannot continue and we are not going to sit back, [and] help them to do government business, when they are going after our colleagues. Yes, we know that these are sensitive times… We are willing to be patriots and democrats, we have always believed in consensus in the national interest…”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa