Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante has strongly condemned the Ghana Bar Association for its prolonged silence on issues surrounding Article 146 of the Constitution, highlighting what he sees as a neglect of duty toward the public.
Speaking on the Morning Star with Naa Dedei Tettey, Dr. Asah-Asante said he was deeply disappointed that the Bar had failed to address the constitutional provision despite knowing of its potential problems over the past three decades:
“I am very disappointed in the Bar Association. Why am I saying this? That you know that there is a problem with Article 146. Why have they been quiet over the years? Remember when we started to create this constitution since 1993? Here we are. There is a problem with this provision and for three decades, the Bar Association couldn’t find anything wrong with this provision.”
Dr. Asah-Asante argued that the Bar’s inaction amounted to neglect, noting the critical role lawyers play as guardians of democracy:
“There is an adage that silence is neglect. Remember your role. If you read your role at the bar, you are guardians of this democracy and you protect also the bar as a bench. If you look at people who are guardians of this democracy and there is a law like this, which has all manner of problems and for three decades they did not see it, then they have neglected us. They owe us an apology because we have put our hope and trust in them.”
He emphasized that the Bar’s knowledge and expertise set it apart from ordinary citizens, making its failure to act particularly concerning:
“They have abandoned us and they push us under the bars because the cuckoo seller will not know that there’s a problem with this one process. The watching seller will not know. People who are not lawyers may not necessarily know, but they ought to know at all times because of their backgrounds, because of their knowledge.”
Dr. Asah-Asante’s remarks follow comments by the Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, who questioned the consistency of the Bar in addressing constitutional matters, particularly its silence on the application of Article 146 in previous high-profile cases.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
