South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, private legal practitioner Israel Tetteh, and the Ghana Law Society have filed a constitutional suit at the Supreme Court challenging what they call the “exclusive” status of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA).
In their writ, the plaintiffs argue that references to the “Ghana Bar Association” in the 1992 Constitution should not be read as giving a single private group monopoly over lawyers in the country.
“The constitutional reference to the ‘Ghana Bar Association’ must be construed as referring to the totality of associations of lawyers in Ghana,” the suit states.
“Any interpretation that grants the current Ghana Bar Association exclusive powers, rights or privileges offends Articles 17 and 21(1)(e) of the Constitution.”
Mr. Dafeamekpor told reporters outside the court, “We are not against the existence of the GBA. We are against the idea that one private association should be treated as if it is the only voice of lawyers in Ghana.”
The plaintiffs are seeking declarations that the GBA cannot bar other lawyer groups from recognition or participation and an order restraining it from holding itself out as the sole Ghana Bar Association.
Israel Tetteh added, “Freedom of association means any lawyer or group of lawyers can form or join any association and be constitutionally entitled to equal recognition.”
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