ACCRA — Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has criticised the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) for what he described as selective and partisan conduct, accusing the association of appearing to align with opposition interests rather than focusing on core professional matters.
“And so you see that the issues that they seem to be also important to them, often, nearly often becomes the issue of concern to the opposition party. So if that is the case, then the GBA rather appears to be toeing a partisan line in the matter,” Mr Dafeamekpor said.
He argued that the GBA should instead have used the opportunity to address legal reforms at the highest levels, noting that such reforms form the core of the legal ecosystem and ought to be a priority for the Bar.
“If the GBA has gone further and speak about the legal reforms at the top of the matter, because that is our ecosystem. And so the changes happening in that ecosystem should be a matter of concern to us. It would be a moment for them to do that. And the occasion would be suitable for raising that matter,” he stated.
Mr Dafeamekpor said he had listened carefully to the GBA President and concluded that she was operating in an attack mode.
“I’ve listened to her, and I think that she is on an attack sphere. Attacking the thing that is attacking everyone,” he remarked.
He insisted that the proper and professional response would be for the association to apologise.
“And I think that it’s most important for us… the proper thing to do, the professional thing to do is to apologise,” Mr Dafeamekpor said.
Turning to the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), he noted that SIGA had already apologised where necessary, yet the GBA was now attacking it for commenting on a report issued by the Auditor-General concerning state-owned enterprises and related institutions.
“The SIGA has done that. And it is now attacking the SIGA for speaking to the report issued by the Auditor General in respect of SOEs and the state institution called SIGA,” he said.
He explained that SIGA had simply issued an annual report based on the audited accounts of state institutions and carried out analysis of the findings.
“If SIGA has issued an annual report based on the annual audited accounts of state institutions and has done some analysis… Why should this be a matter… when the whole part of the people consider it is faithful?” Mr Dafeamekpor asked.
The comments form part of a broader debate over the boundaries of professional commentary by the GBA and perceptions of selectivity in the issues it chooses to highlight.
By Gayheart Abraham
Source: Mybluewavesonline.com| Maurice Duncan | Bolgatanga
