Ghana Bar Association Faces Government Backlash Over Selective Criticism of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) is currently at the center of a heated political and judicial firestorm following its sharp criticism of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie. GBA President Efua Ghartey publicly condemned the Chief Justice for remarks he made during visits to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), where he allegedly praised the performance of state-owned enterprises under the previous administration. Ghartey described the remarks as "inappropriate" and a violation of the constitutional boundaries of judicial impartiality, warning that such comments create a perception of the judiciary being aligned with the executive branch. Invoking biblical imagery, she remarked that "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks," and dismissed the Judicial Service's defense of the Chief Justice as "lacklustre."

The GBA's stance has drawn swift and stinging rebukes from the government and parliamentary leadership. Majority Chief Whip and South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor accused the GBA of abandoning its neutrality and becoming a "ventilating association" for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). Similarly, Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai accused the association of "selective criticism," arguing that the GBA has been inconsistent in its responses to political comments from different judicial officers over the years. Dr. Srem-Sai contended that the GBA’s advocacy appears to shift based on which political party is in power, a sentiment echoed by critics who pointed to the GBA’s historical boycott of the 1992 constitutional drafting process as evidence of a selective commitment to constitutionalism.

Amidst these tensions, Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine has called for the GBA to disassociate itself from partisan politics to maintain the professional integrity of the legal bar. To address systemic issues within the legal profession, the Attorney General announced plans to introduce the Legal Practitioners Standards Board Bill. This legislation aims to create an independent statutory body that will set standards for professional conduct and handle disciplinary matters autonomously from the government. Dr. Ayine emphasized that the reform is intended to enhance the independence of the legal profession and prevent the abuse of legal processes, rather than to exert political control over lawyers.

Beyond the immediate controversy, the broader judicial landscape remains unsettled following the 2025 removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has publicly challenged the grounds for Torkornoo’s dismissal, describing the reasons provided as "shallow and ephemeral." Akuffo, who filed a dissenting opinion during the Council of State proceedings, questioned the Council's capacity to determine technical judicial matters. While these debates continue, the GBA is also under pressure to address national crises, with President Ghartey urging the government to show genuine political will in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey), insisting that law enforcement must remain impartial and free from political connections to protect the environment and public trust.