Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has renewed his call on the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to maintain a clear distance from partisan politics.
According to him, some recent actions and positions taken by the association have created the perception that it is aligning itself with particular political interests.
Dr Ayine believes such perceptions could undermine the independence and credibility of the GBA, stressing the need for the association to remain guided by principle rather than political convenience.
He made the remarks in a statement delivered on his behalf by Deputy Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai.
Dr Ayine stressed that his call should not be interpreted as a demand for the GBA to remain silent on national issues.
“An Attorney General who wishes for the bar that agrees with him all the time clearly misunderstands his own job and also the role of the bar as a civil society organisation. Suffice to say that like each of us here in this hall, I too strongly believe that the bar’s authority rests on its independence from the state, from political parties and yes, from the office which I occupy.
“Accordingly, what I asked for in Wa and still ask for here today is not a bar that is silent or hidden but a bar that is visible and present. Not a bar that flips on principles but a bar that is consistent. Not a bar that keeps its distance from public life and discourse but one that keeps its distance from political convenience.”
He maintained that the GBA has an important role to play in public discourse and in defending democratic principles, but insisted that its interventions must be grounded in independence and consistency.
Government to introduce Legal Practitioners Standards Bill
Meanwhile, Dr Ayine has announced plans by the government to introduce a Legal Practitioners Standards Bill to strengthen standards within the legal profession.
The proposed legislation is expected to address disciplinary matters involving lawyers and provide measures to prevent the abuse of legal processes.
The initiative forms part of efforts to strengthen professional standards and ensure greater accountability within the legal profession.
