The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) is under scrutiny and facing sharp criticism from a group of lawyers dubbed Lawyers in Search of Democracy (LINSOD) for allegedly allowing its annual conference to be exploited as a political platform for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
President Nana Akufo Addo and Attorney General Godfred Dame used the conference to castigate opposition leader John Dramani Mahama and promote the NPP’s re-election bid in the upcoming 2024 general election.
LINSOD, in a strongly worded statement, expressed concerns about the GBA’s decision to allow political discourse at an event that should primarily focus on legal matters.
The group argued that the GBA should have used its platform to address pressing issues, such as the limited voter registration exercise by the Electoral Commission and the alleged infringement of citizens’ fundamental rights during protests.
Eric Delanyo Alifo, President of LINSOD, criticized the GBA’s silence on the voter registration issue, saying, “It is the understanding of all Ghanaians that the manner in which the Electoral Commission is proceeding with the limited registration exercise shall result in voter suppression.”
The lawyers’ group also condemned the police and courts for allegedly infringing upon citizens’ rights to demonstrate freely.
They noted that it has become increasingly challenging under President Akufo Addo’s tenure for opposition groups and dissenting voices to express their grievances openly.
LINSOD also raised concerns with the unresolved issue of the ‘Government Official 1’ label, a reference to former President Mahama in a corruption scandal.
President Akufo Addo referred to Mahama as such during his speech at the conference, drawing criticism from LINSOD.
“President Nana Akufo Addo also attacked the former President and referred to him as “Government official 1” as he tried to extricate himself from the “Clearing Agent” label, which he has been bestowed on him by the people of Ghana. This attitude of President Nana Addo appeared to have been out of frustration, and was petty, to say the least”
“Government Official 1” was associated with a supposed transaction involving the acquisition of an airbus for Ghana during the reign of the late President Mills and John Mahama. There was no investigation or conclusive investigation of the facts. Indeed, President Nana Akufo Addo did state correctly that the matter was unresolved, and yet, he referred to former President Mahama as “Government official 1” in an attempt to equalize the reference to him (President Akufo Addo) as a “clearing agent.”
“The President claimed that the first Special Prosecutor, Mr. Martin Amidu, who was appointed by him was the one that had referred to the former President Mahama as “Government Official 1” in an unresolved scandal. “
“Interestingly, however, the same Mr. Martin Amidu had described President Akufo Addo as the “mother serpent of corruption” when out of his exasperation, resulting from the corrupt practices and repeated attempts by the President and some of his senior officials to influence his duties, he tendered his resignation as the first Special Prosecutor.
Attorney General Godfred Dame also faced criticism for suggesting that the next President of Ghana would be an economist.
This statement, the group argued, is an attempt to further the NPP’s political agenda.
LINSOD emphasized the importance of free expression in a democracy and called on all political leaders to speak boldly on pertinent national issues.
They urged the GBA to also maintain its independence from political influence and return its focus to the legal matters at hand.
