Governs Kwame Agbodza, the minority chief whip, has reacted to the Ghana Bar Association’s (GBA) national president’s opinion of the tenure of the court’s most recent chief justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, in light of that opinion.

Yaw Acheampong Boafo, according to the Adaklu Member of Parliament (MP), is unfamiliar with how Parliament works and is unable to tell whether or not members are allowed to comment.

At the 41st commemoration of Martyrs Day, Mr. Acheampong Boafo raised worry about recent public critiques of judges over perceived unfavorable judgments.

In light of recent outbursts against Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo’s ruling in the James Gyakye Quayson case, he harshly criticized the Minority on this score.

Under the guise that the Appointments Committee members were awaiting Justice Torkornoo’s ruling in the case, the Minority had postponed making a judgment about her.

What was worse, according to the GBA National President, was when a member of the Minority Caucus unjustly assaulted the outgoing Chief Justice, Kwesi Anin Yeboah.

According to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP, the National President of the GBA, however, must be isolated from the Association in the current case and dealt with directly.

“Mr Yaw Boafo does not have enough understanding on the way Parliament works. When we are vetting people, we want to know the person that is going to occupy a particular position. Mr Yaw Boafo should be concerned about the CDD report in 2020 that said very uncharitable things about the perception of Ghanaians about the judiciary.”
Governs Kwame Agboza

The Minority Chief Whip specifically mentioned Chief Justice Torkornoo’s confirmation hearing on May 26 and noted that numerous other top attorneys shared his opinion of the ruling.

“He is making reference to our line of questioning during the vetting of the current Chief Justice and in his view he thinks I didn’t provide any evidence or he said it is irresponsible. I think we can separate Yaw Boafo from the Ghana Bar Association because I have heard very senior members of the Ghana Bar Association, more senior than him, who have criticized the two cases I cited – the Gyakye Quayson case and the case on birth certificates.
“So I don’t think he has any prerogative or he owns the rights to criticise and others cannot criticise.”
Governs Keame Agboza

Kwakye Ofosu Slams GBA

According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, a former deputy minister of information, the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and its president are sympathizers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

In a tweet, he said “The GBA and it’s President are ridiculous NPP stooges. They would have us keep quiet over glaring injustice because it benefits their party. There are no sacred cows in public office and we in the NDC will forever call out those who abuse their office for partisan gain.”

His comments come after the GBA took exception to the recent unwarranted criticisms and attacks in the media against judges for their decisions.