‘GBA Is Not an NPP Branch’ — Association Responds to Kwakye Ofosu

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has firmly dismissed claims by Government spokesperson and Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, that the association is aligned with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The controversy emerged amid public criticism over the GBA’s perceived silence on remarks made by Minority Leader and Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin against some members of the judiciary.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, May 18, the Public Relations Officer of the GBA, Saviour Kudze, described the allegation as “disappointing” and urged politicians to stop politicising the association whenever it comments on national matters.

“That doesn’t come as a surprise. It’s rather disappointing that every time this matter keeps coming up,” Mr. Kudze stated.

According to him, Ghana’s pressing national issues such as sanitation and illegal mining deserved greater attention than recurring partisan attacks on professional institutions like the GBA.

“It appears the many problems that Ghanaians are worried about — sanitation, galamsey — we don’t want to act on those ones. Anytime GBA speaks at certain times, he speaks for certain people, and he doesn’t speak for certain people,” he said.

The backlash follows criticism from sections of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), who questioned why the GBA had not publicly condemned comments by Mr. Afenyo-Markin, which many viewed as disparaging toward some judges.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu suggested the association’s silence reinforced long-standing perceptions that the GBA sympathises with the NPP — an allegation the association has consistently denied.

Responding to the accusation, Mr. Kudze said reducing the GBA to partisan politics undermines the integrity of the legal profession and distracts from issues affecting governance and the rule of law.

“How long can we continue to do this? It’s becoming a ritual. Can we move away from this?” he questioned.

He further argued that political leaders who identify institutional problems should focus on providing solutions rather than politicising public discourse.

“In any case, all those or most of those people saying these things are in leadership. If they have identified a problem, understanding of leadership is providing solutions to problems. What have they done about it?” he asked.

Mr. Kudze also stressed that the GBA remains a unified body representing lawyers across all political affiliations.

“Because it is only one group of lawyers that we have. We are all lawyers belonging to one group. If there’s an issue, how do we deal with it?” he said.

Rejecting claims that the association serves any political interest, he added: “Every time, GBA is a wing of NPP. I don’t know that. To me, it is not true.”

He further maintained that while judges may be criticised, lawyers must rely on lawful procedures such as appeals instead of public comments that may be perceived as insulting to the bench.

GBA Condemns Afenyo-Markin’s Remarks

In the same interview, the Ghana Bar Association condemned comments made by Mr. Afenyo-Markin, describing them as inappropriate and potentially harmful to judicial independence.

Mr. Kudze said the association would not tolerate conduct that undermines judges or weakens confidence in the judiciary.

“We will never condone such conduct. Over the years, we have consistently cautioned and condemned similar behaviour by lawyers,” he stated.

“A senior lawyer who also holds a public position ought to have done better,” he added.

What Afenyo-Markin Said

Mr. Afenyo-Markin criticised aspects of the legal process involving Abronye DC, arguing that constitutional protections surrounding bail and freedom of expression had been violated.

“What has been done to Abronye DC is a profound constitutional wrong, and must be condemned without equivocation, without delay,” he said.

“The arrest itself, the prosecution and remand of a citizen for words spoken in the public domain is not justice; it is prosecution,” he added.

He also criticised the presiding judge, stating:

“That Circuit Court 9 judge — I have no respect for him. I pray he summons me for contempt. I will continue to disrespect him until he upholds the law. It’s a shame on the judiciary; he doesn’t talk law.”