Private legal practitioner Abraham Amaliba has accused former Deputy Attorney General Asonaba Dapaah of being instrumental in influencing the Ghana Bar Association’s (GBA) recent comments regarding the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo.
President John Mahama suspended the Chief Justice on April 22, 2025, invoking Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, following consultations with the Council of State and the establishment of a prima facie case based on three separate petitions.
In response, the GBA issued a statement underscoring the importance of upholding constitutional principles and due process.
At the Association’s mid-year conference, GBA President Efua Ghartey urged members to closely monitor the proceedings to ensure that justice is both done and seen to be done.
She described the situation as unprecedented and calling for public education on the matter.
However, speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, Mr. Amaliba expressed disappointment with the Association’s position, accusing it of abandoning its neutral role in national affairs.
He alleged that internal pressure from certain elements within the Association, particularly from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), influenced the GBA’s direction.
Mr. Amaliba said, “”People were there and so people who were our colleagues who attended that program. It did happen but I know that bar executives were under pressure to do what they did and I’m told that they are not happy with what they did but nonetheless it is still in their name. The fact that they couldn’t stand firm to ward off the NPP elements in the bar who wanted this statement out. So it will still be a blot on them even though I know they were unhappy with what was going on and didn’t want to do what they said they should do. But nonetheless they were still carrying the blame. …From the NPP elements. I’m told that the former Deputy Attorney General, Asonaba Dapaah was key in driving the Association to this conclusion.”
Amaliba further lamented what he described as the declining relevance of the GBA, stating, “It used to be that bar association that leads all the professional bodies. I think now they have been relegated to the background. The Ghana Medical Association is doing better, Teachers Association is doing better, UTAG is doing better. If you look at the list I think that the Bar associations will be down down there. So that is my verdict on them unfortunately, I’m a member but that is it.”
