The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has not resigned from the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) as has been reported in some media platforms, the Law Society of Ghana (LSG) has clarified.   

According to the LSG, its interim executives paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament at his office on Tuesday, 20th September 2022, to congratulate him on his elevation as President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) of the world and also to introduce the new LSG to him.

The LSG said at nowhere in the Speaker’s welcoming remarks during their visit, did he ever state that he has resigned from the GBA.

The LSG explained that Mr Bagbin only expressed in strong words, his revulsion about the state of the GBA and wished to see a change for a better Bar Association committed to the aims, objectives and ethics as captured and practiced globally.

The Speaker only welcomed the formation of the LSG and pledged his unflinching support to the Interim Executives and the Society to establish and develop a better professional group.

LSG in a statement signed by its acting President, Rockson Dafeamekpor, said Speaker Bagbin was very excited to learn from him, the novelty in roping on board not only lawyers but paralegals, law students at the Ghana School of Law and the law teaching faculties at the universities.

The statement further noted that the Speaker’s interest and excitement of LSG also stems from the fact that he together with learned senior Ward Brew, Esq had actually earlier sponsored the formation of the Bar Association of Ghana (BAG) when the frustration from the GBA became unbearable, until some impediments came their way, which rendered the forward march of BAG impossible or near impracticable.

Speaker Bagbin is believed to have charged the LSG to seek to shape national discourse and fight against injustice in all forms in Ghana.

According to reports by the LSG, the speaker noted that the GBA has now become too elitist and stressed that he used to pay his dues religiously until it came to his attention that any lawyer that had close association with the then Public Tribunal Court was not recognized and paid their last respects by the GBA, upon death.

After citing instances, the Speaker said his interest in the GBA had diminished and with it the non-payment of his membership dues.

He advised LSG to come up with reasoned legal opinions and constructive criticisms of Court judgements so as to enrich the country’s law reports and publish same in Journals and also pledged his overwhelming support to the LSG.

The delegation was led by the interim LSG President, Rockson Dafeamekpor, Esq. (MP), who congratulated the Speaker on his new position as the President of the CPA.

The Acting President bemoaned the GBA deviation from its core values and mandate in terms of fairness, inclusiveness, defending lawyers and promoting lawyers’ welfare.

The Acting President was accompanied by the Vice President Biadela Mortey Akpadzi Esq, General Secretary Atukwei Quaye Esq, Treasurer, Enoch Deegbe Esq, Women Commissioner Anatu Anne Seidu Bogobiri, Dep. General Secretary David Worwui-Brown, Esq and Deputy Director of Communications, Mercy Dankwa, Esq all in interim capacities.