Lawyers across the country will vote today, Wednesday, September 11, 2024, to elect their new executives as the tenure of Yaw Acheampong Boafo comes to an end. Boafo, the outgoing president of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), is not seeking re-election.
At the polls today, the GBA, a professional association of lawyers in the country, will elect its next president, vice president, and other national officers.
Two distinguished candidates are vying for the presidency: Agbesi Dzakpasu Esq. and Mrs. Efua Ghartey Esq. They are seeking the mandate of their colleagues at the association’s 2024 annual general conference, which is currently underway at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. The conference, themed “Peaceful, Fair, and Transparent Election: The Key to Sustainable Democracy,” began on Monday, September 9, and will conclude on Friday, September 13.
This conference will be the last presided over by the current president, Yaw Acheampong Boafo Esq., who chose not to seek re-election. Boafo was elected as GBA President in 2021 for a three-year term after serving as the national secretary of the GBA. He succeeded Anthony Forson Jnr Esq., who did not seek re-election after completing a three-year term.
Three years ago, Boafo won the presidency by securing 605 votes (52.83%) compared to Mrs. Efua Ghartey’s 540 votes (47.16%) at the 2021 annual Bar conference held at the Fountain Gate Chapel, Bolgatanga, in the Upper East Region.
Will Efua Ghartey be second-time lucky?
Mrs. Efua Ghartey, who is running for the presidency for the second time, secured 540 votes three years ago but lost the contest by 65 votes. She is determined to make history as the first female GBA president and is once again competing for the role in 2024.
Mrs. Ghartey, who is co-founder of Ghartey & Ghartey, was called to the Bar in 1991, while Mr. Agbesi Dzakpasu, her opponent, joined the Bar in 2000. Mrs. Ghartey graduated from the University of Ghana, Legon, and holds certificates in Basic and Advanced Securities from the Ghana Stock Exchange, as well as in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the California State University, Sacramento, and the University of Ghana.
She has held numerous executive positions in FIDA (Ghana) and has been a member of various boards and organizations involved in activities related to children, education, aviation, export financing, media, and publishing. Mrs. Ghartey has also served as the Immediate Past President of the Greater Accra Regional Bar Association and has been a significant figure in the Chief Justice’s Annual Mentoring Programme.
Mr. Dzakpasu’s Background
Mr. Agbesi Dzakpasu holds an LLM in Banking and Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and an LLB from the University of Ghana. He is the current President of the Greater Accra Regional Bar Association and has a particular interest in banking and finance, litigation, energy, pensions, real estate, media, and mining.
He was previously an Associate at Akuetteh Kudoadzi and Co. and has served on several boards, including as the Board Chairman of Pensions Alliance Trust and as a member of the boards of Media General Ghana Limited and Ghana Grid Company.
Victoria Barth on the Verge of History
Elsewhere, Mrs. Victoria Barth, another highly accomplished legal professional, is on the verge of making history as she seeks to become the first female National Vice-President of the GBA. As a lecturer at the Ghana School of Law, Mrs. Barth has a stellar academic career and has mentored many young lawyers. Her candidacy has garnered significant support, particularly among younger members of the Bar, as she faces Isaac Kwaitoo at the polls today.
Other executive positions, such as General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary, will also be decided. The current Public Relations Officer, Saviour Kudze, is running unopposed, as is the treasurer. The position of Deputy PRO is also up for grabs.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Murtala Inusah
