Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has cautioned the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) against allowing itself to be perceived as an appendage of any political party, stressing the need for the Association to protect its independence and credibility.
The Chief Justice made the call in a speech delivered on his behalf by former Ghana Bar Association President, Anthony Forson Jnr, at the GBA’s Annual General Conference on September 14.
He said the strength of the legal profession’s umbrella body lay in its commitment to the law, constitutionalism and justice rather than political interests.
“The GBA must jealously guard its long-standing nature as the conscience of the legal profession and not allow itself to be perceived as an appendage of any government in power or any political party.
Your strength lies in fidelity to the law, constitutionalism, and justice for all,” he said.
Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie warned that the Association’s public statements and interventions must be guided by principle and consistency, noting that any perception of political bias could undermine public confidence in the institution.
He said frequent public statements, the timing of interventions or selective silence could create an impression of partisanship, which could erode the GBA’s moral authority to hold those in power accountable.
“The GBA must thus speak with principle consistency and ensure its leadership and communities reflect the collective ethos of the bar, not the political preferences of the day,” he said.
He further urged the association to remain committed to protecting Ghana’s constitutional democracy irrespective of changes in political leadership.
“Governments change, parties change, judges retire, lawyers grow old, but the constitution must endure and the bar must remain one of its vigilant guardians,” he stated.
The Chief Justice also reminded lawyers that their responsibility extended beyond earning a livelihood from the profession, describing the law as a shield against arbitrary power and stressing that every individual was entitled to its protection.
“We are taught that the law is a shield against arbitrary power.
We are taught that every person, however poor, however unpopular, however powerless, is entitled to the protection of the law.
We must therefore never become so comfortable that we forget those who are not,” he said.
He called on lawyers to remain advocates for vulnerable and powerless people, particularly when they are confronted by individuals or institutions with greater power and resources.
“When the vulnerable stand before the powerful, the lawyer must stand with the vulnerable. When the poor cannot afford the language of power, the lawyer must lend them the language of the law,” he said.
He added that lawyers must remind powerful institutions that authority in a constitutional democracy was subject to legal limits.
“When institutions become too powerful to hear the individual, the lawyer must remain, remind them that power in a constitutional democracy is never without limits. This is not activism.
That is the calling,” he said.
Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie urged the GBA to continue serving as a voice of reason when public emotions run high and as a voice of conscience when convenience becomes tempting.
He said the Association must preserve its role as a trusted guardian of constitutionalism, justice and the rule of law.
