The Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has questioned the consistency of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) in its engagement with constitutional issues, urging the Association to prioritize principle over partisanship.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025/26 GBA Annual Conference in Wa, Dr. Ayine noted that the Bar remained largely silent when Article 146 of the Constitution was previously invoked, but has now publicly commented on the recent suspension and removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo following petitions of misconduct.
According to Dr. Ayine, lawyers must exercise restraint when engaging in political matters to protect the credibility of their profession.
He stressed that allegiance should first be to the Constitution and the Republic, rather than to transient political interests.
“Our role in politics must be guided by principle, not partisanship. When lawyers descend into the arena of raw politics without restraint, we risk undermining the very foundation of our professional credibility. We must remember that our allegiance is first and foremost to the constitution and this republic, not to transient political interests.”
He further reflected on the Bar’s historical role, highlighting that over the past three decades, the Association has been instrumental in assisting the Supreme Court to interpret and enforce constitutional provisions.
However, he argued that outside the courtroom, the Bar’s advocacy has sometimes lacked consistency, raising questions about its adherence to principle.
“The Bar the bar has played a crucial role in assisting the supreme court to interpret and enforce the constitution,” Dr. Ayine said. “But outside the courtroom, the advocacy of the BAR as a professional group has lacked consistency, bringing into question its adherence to principle.”
The week-long GBA Annual Conference is being held under the theme: “Sustaining the 4th Republican Constitutional Democracy; the Role of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession”, and brings together legal practitioners from across the country to discuss the judiciary’s role in maintaining democratic governance.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
