Majority Chief Whip and South Dayi MP, Honourable Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, has accused the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) of increasingly taking positions that align with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Honourable Dafeamekpor argued that the association’s handling of recent matters involving the judiciary suggests a partisan pattern in the issues it chooses to highlight.
He explained that concerns raised by four lawyers about the Chief Justice were taken up by the GBA without sufficient verification of the facts presented to the association. According to the South Dayi MP, the failure to independently cross-check the claims resulted in the GBA advancing allegations against the Chief Justice over the handling of vacation courts.
He noted that the Chief Justice issued a warrant for a judge to sit during the judicial vacation, but did not specified which cases the judge would hear. The Majority Chief Whip argued that this was subsequently portrayed in a manner that inaccurately suggested selective justice.
Furthermore, Honourable Dafeamekpor questioned why the GBA president, Efua Ghartey would accept the lawyers’ account without first establishing the accuracy of the information. He argued that professional associations, particularly one representing the legal profession, have a responsibility to verify claims before making public interventions.
The South Dayi MP consequently linked the association’s recent interventions to the political positions of the NPP. He observed that matters highlighted by the GBA frequently appear to coincide with issues subsequently pursued by the opposition party.
“The GBA, as it is today and for some time now, appears to be a ventilating association for members of the New Patriotic Party.”
Honourable Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor
He contended that such a pattern could undermine public confidence in the association’s neutrality. The Majority Chief Whip therefore suggested that the GBA should reconsider how it approaches politically sensitive matters involving state institutions.
Additionally, Honourable Dafeamekpor argued that the association should focus on substantive developments within Ghana’s legal system. He pointed to ongoing legal reforms as an example of issues that could provide constructive opportunities for the GBA to contribute to national discourse.
He reiterated that engaging those reforms would be more appropriate than repeatedly directing public criticism at the Chief Justice and other judicial actors. For the South Dayi MP, the credibility of the Bar depends partly on its ability to distinguish professional advocacy from partisan political positioning.
Dafeamekpor Demands GBA Apology Over Chief Justice Vacation Court Claims
Majority Chief Whip Honourable Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor also called on the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) president to apologise to the Chief Justice over inaccurate claims concerning the operation of vacation courts.
Honourable Dafeamekpor argued that the association’s criticism of the Chief Justice became particularly problematic because the facts surrounding the matter had not been properly established before the allegations advanced.
He explained that the Chief Justice authorised a judge to sit during the judicial vacation without identifying specific cases that the judge was expected to hear. The South Dayi MP argued that this administrative decision did not justify claims that the Chief Justice was engaging in selective justice.
“If you accuse a CJ of setting up a court during a vacation to hear certain cases and those facts are most inaccurate, the proper thing to do, the professional thing to do, is to apologise.”
Honourable Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor
The Majority Chief Whip noted that the absence of an apology has become significant as the GBA president criticises the Chief Justice on other matters. Furthermore, he challenged the association’s objection to the Chief Justice commenting on findings relating to state-owned enterprises and the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA).
Honourable Dafeamekpor explained that SIGA’s annual reporting process involves analysis based on audited accounts from state institutions. He therefore questioned why the Chief Justice’s decision to speak about information contained in such reports should attract criticism from the GBA.
The South Dayi MP argued that public officials, including senior members of the judiciary, should retain the ability to contribute to discussions on governance and institutional performance. He suggested that the GBA’s reaction to the Chief Justice’s comments was disproportionate.
Additionally, Honourable Dafeamekpor criticized “a recurring pattern of attacks” directed at the Chief Justice and the judiciary. He argued that the legal profession should prioritise constructive engagement on matters affecting Ghana’s justice system.
He also pointed to the significance of legal reforms as an area where the GBA could make a substantive contribution to national discourse. In his view, professional discussions on reforms would provide a more productive platform for the association than repeated public confrontations with judicial authorities.
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