As the 2024 Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Conference begins in Kumasi, the president of the GBA, Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo, spoke at length about preparations, technology adoption, and reflections on his tenure as he engaged with the media. The conference, scheduled to run from today through September 13, 2024, has attracted significant attention due to the numerous innovations and the role it plays in the election of new leadership for the association.
When asked about the choice of Kumasi as the host city for this year’s conference, Mr. Boafo clarified that there was no special consideration behind the selection of Kumasi. The association operates on a ten-year rotational program, and it was simply Kumasi’s turn this year.
“…There’s no particular reason. We have a ten-year program, so it rotates and it’s just coincidental; this year is Kumasi.”
Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo the president of the GBA
This explanation sheds light on the GBA’s strategic planning, ensuring that various regions across the country get the opportunity to host the prestigious event. This year’s GBA Conference has set a record in terms of participation. Mr. Boafo proudly shared that the event has attracted about 2,300 in-person participants and an additional 450 virtual attendees, bringing the total to nearly 2,800 participants.
This growth in participation underscores the increasing interest and engagement within the legal fraternity. The president also emphasized the role of technology in managing the growing numbers.
“We’ve employed technology to handle these things. We’re using facial recognition technology, NFC, and other things to control our numbers and to provide the services. So everything is on course.”
Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo the president of the GBA
The adoption of facial recognition technology, in particular, is aimed at ensuring that only registered participants have access to events, thereby controlling costs and enhancing the overall management of the conference. When probed further about the introduction of such advanced technology.
Mr. Boafo explained that the primary motivation was to manage the number of attendees and ensure that only those who have registered for the conference can participate in the various events.
“Our numbers require that we make sure that those who have registered are the ones who are going to have access to these events because, you know, these things are very expensive.”
Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo the president of the GBA
Mr. Boafo also noted that registration for the conference had been conducted online through the association’s portal, with a deadline set for August 16, 2024. However, in a typical Ghanaian fashion, many members waited until the last minute to register, which posed challenges in ensuring that everyone who intended to participate could do so
“One thing that we’ve noticed, you know, typical of Ghanaians, is that everybody waits and then when the portal shuts down, you have a lot of people who could not register.”
Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo the president of the GBA
This necessitated the use of technology to ensure that only those who registered on time were granted access, preventing overcrowding and keeping the event’s expenses under control.
Participation and Voting Rights
A key issue discussed was the link between conference participation and the right to vote in the upcoming election for new GBA leadership.
“The constitution makes it clear that elections can only be held during the annual general conference. That’s the only period that we have elections. So you have to be registered for the conference before you can participate in the election.”
Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo the president of the GBA
This policy has led to some concerns about disenfranchisement, particularly for dues-paying lawyers who, for various reasons, did not register for the conference. Mr. Boafo, however, refuted the notion that such individuals were being disenfranchised. Mr. Boafo explained that choosing not to register for the conference is akin to deciding not to vote in a national election. It is a voluntary decision, not a forced exclusion.
“Disenfranchising is where you have…you are prevented from doing something, maybe because of an error on the part of an electoral body or some legal issue. This one is a voluntary decision taken by an individual not to participate. It’s just like deciding not to show up at your polling station to vote in an election.”
Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo the president of the GBA
According to Mr. Boafo, while all dues-paying lawyers have the right to vote, only those who attend the conference and register will have the opportunity to exercise this right. Therefore, lawyers who do not register for the conference voluntarily forfeit their voting rights.
Reflections on His Tenure as GBA President
When asked to reflect on his tenure as the president of the Ghana Bar Association.
“I will not engage in self-assessment. The thing is that this is a public office, a president of a professional body. I think the most important thing for me is how do my colleagues consider my tenure. You know, for somebody outside, he may have his view. For the Ghana Bar Association, the most important thing for me…would be how do members of the bar generally see what happened during my tenure.”
Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo the president of the GBA
Mr. Boafo’s humility and focus on the collective opinion of his peers underscore his dedication to serving the legal fraternity and ensuring that his leadership is judged by those directly impacted by his policies and actions.
READ ALSO; Selena Gomez Joins Billionaire Celebrity Rich List
