NPP must reconsider Chairman Wontumi’s candidature due to his legal problems – Brako-Powers
He noted that Wontumi has faced criminal proceedings relating to alleged illegal mining activities, making his candidacy an issue that the NPP cannot afford to overlook.
Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, a private legal practitioner and policy analyst, has harshly criticized the "feisty posture" displayed by senior lawyers during the current dispute over the Chief Justice's instruction on legal vacation. During a segment on TV3's Big Issues on August 18, 2026, Brako-Powers expressed his shame at the issue becoming a nationwide debate, asserting that it should be resolved through proper judicial procedures.
He specifically criticized former Attorney-General Godfred Dame and former Majority Leader in Parliament, Atta Akyea, for their public stance, stating that senior lawyers who younger members of the profession look up to should exhibit greater restraint. Brako-Powers remarked that these individuals' handling of the matter was "pathetic" and not worthy of emulation.
He argued that both sides accept the Chief Justice's administrative powers over the judiciary, as outlined in Article 125(4) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 79(1) of C.I. 47. Brako-Powers questioned the notion that the Chief Justice's directive should be rejected solely due to tradition or custom, emphasizing that the rules governing legal vacation should be interpreted in conjunction with the Chief Justice's administrative authority.
He also expressed disappointment with the Ghana Bar Association's statement on the matter, deeming it particularly troubling for the legal profession. Brako-Powers firmly maintained that any claim that the Chief Justice's directive contravenes Articles 23 or 296 of the 1992 Constitution should be left to judicial determination, rather than being publicly debated from law firms.
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