GBA’s criticism of Chief Justice lacks consistency – Deputy AG

Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai has criticized the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) for its inconsistent approach to criticizing comments made by Chief Justices. Speaking on Joy FM's Top Story on September 14, Dr Srem-Sai pointed out that the GBA's condemnation of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie's remarks about state institutions appeared selective compared to its response to similar comments by previous Chief Justices.

He argued that if the Bar believes judicial officers should avoid politically charged statements, they must apply this principle uniformly, regardless of the Chief Justice or the governing administration. Dr Srem-Sai emphasized that the Bar should either remain silent on such matters or consistently speak out against them, without selectively condemning comments based on political circumstances.

He accused the GBA of allowing political considerations to influence when it chooses to criticize comments by judicial officers, stating that the perception of its political neutrality has been damaged by its pattern of criticism. The Deputy Attorney-General also noted that the GBA's inconsistent stance had reinforced a public perception that the association is not aligned with the country's best interests but rather with a particular political faction.