Anthony Forson Jnr
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has joined the long list of Ghanaians who condemned the chaos which characterized activities in Parliament during the election of the Speaker.
In a statement on the issue, the association of legal practitioners condemned what it described as “the mayhem that occurred in Parliament during the election of the Speaker of Parliament.”
Describing the actions as blight on the democratic credentials of Ghana, the lawyers added that “it is the expectation of the GBA that there will be no such disorderly scenes in Parliament in future, and that the parliamentarians will always strive to safeguard Ghana’s democratic credentials.”
Turning its attention on the recent accusation of an MP against the judiciary, the GBA stated that “the Bar finds the allegations offensive and distasteful. They incite hatred among the public with regard to the judges, expose them to ridicule and put them into disrepute. Such allegations with respect to the judiciary undermine the integrity of and erode public confidence in the justice delivery process, and may result in lawlessness.”
It will be recalled that on Sunday, January 10, 2021, the MP for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, alleged that a Supreme Court judge had made a bribe offer to an MP to influence the outcome of the election of a Speaker in the House. “The GBA finds the comments totally unacceptable and hereby calls on Mohammed-Mubarak to substantiate the allegation or retract same and apologize to the justices of the Supreme Court in particular and the Judiciary in general,” the GBA pointed out.
While pointing out that the 1992 Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech, the GBA was quick to add that “that freedom should be exercised with circumspection and should not be used to incite hatred or to subject the Judiciary to ridicule and contempt.”
Continuing the statement, which was signed by Anthony Forson Jnr, National President, and Yaw Acheampong Boafo, National Secretary, stressed that “we wish to take this opportunity to urge Ghanaians to be circumspect with respect to statements made regarding public officers and persons occupying positions of trust. They may be criticized but the criticisms should be constructive and not disparaging and demeaning. Public servants must also act in a manner to inspire confidence in the general polity.”
By A.R. Gomda