The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has rejected claims that it selectively criticises political actors, insisting that it has consistently spoken out on national issues regardless of which political party is in government.
The Association’s Deputy General Secretary, Saviour Kudze, was responding to comments by Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, who accused the GBA of selective criticism and questioned its consistency in responding to recent comments by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Monday, September 14, Mr Kudze stressed that the GBA is a professional body and does not align itself with any political party.
“Ghana Bar Association is not a political institution. It’s an association of lawyers, professional lawyers.”
He explained that the Association’s decision to issue statements or criticise certain actions should not be interpreted as political alignment.
“The fact that we issue statements or criticise issues at times that people are not comfortable with doesn’t mean that we are a political association, or we support a certain political regime.”
GBA insists on consistency
Mr Kudze said the Association had demonstrated consistency in its interventions, regardless of the political affiliation of the individuals involved.
He cited previous responses to comments made by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and NDC MP Francis-Xavier Sosu as examples of the GBA speaking out when it considered it necessary.
According to him, the Association has no preference for any political party and remains focused on issues it considers important to the legal profession and the country.
“Ghana Bar Association has no favour with any political party. We just say our issues, or do our things that is necessary.”
Mr Kudze acknowledged that members of the public were entitled to their perceptions of the Association but rejected suggestions that its interventions were politically motivated.
“People may have their perceptions though. That is their right.”
Calls for focus on national challenges
The GBA Deputy General Secretary also questioned why debates about the Association’s perceived political leanings often overshadow what he described as more pressing national challenges.
He pointed to sanitation and illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, as issues that deserve greater public attention.
“There are many important issues to think about in this country, but every time Ghana Bar Association holds an event, the next thing you hear is that they are politically biased.”
He added:
“We have problems of sanitation, we have problems of galamsey. Why don’t we spend our time on those productive issues?”
