The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Efua Ghartey, has urged members to closely monitor the ongoing proceedings seeking the removal of the Chief Justice to ensure that justice is not only done but also manifestly seen to be done.
She made the call during the Association’s mid-year conference.
According to her, the proceedings surrounding the potential removal of the Chief Justice are unprecedented, and the Bar must play a proactive role in educating the public on the process.
“One such issue, which is currently on the lips of Ghanaians as a result of the publicity associated with the process triggered for the removal of the Chief Justice, is what is a prima facie case?” she said.
She further emphasized: “This process is a novel one in our history as a country, and we, the Bar, must continue to monitor the situation and not hesitate to express our opinion on it where the circumstances demand. It is important that in such matters, justice is not only done but manifestly be seen to have been done.”
Meanwhile, the GBA has pledged to lead discussions on the development of clear rules and guidelines for the removal of Article 71 office holders, including judges.
Efua Ghartey indicated that the Association would submit proposals to eliminate arbitrariness and promote transparency in such sensitive processes.
“It is about time that these guidelines were produced, in order to eliminate arbitrariness in such proceedings, which ought to be held expeditiously and possibly in open court, given the necessary publicity such matters attract. The Bar must take the lead and make proposals in this regard,” she stated.