BY Grace Zigah
President John Dramani Mahama’s conspicuous absence from this year’s Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Annual Conference in Wa has heightened the already tense standoff between the Presidency and the country’s legal fraternity over the controversial removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo.
President Declines Attendance After Acceptance
The GBA had, in March 2025, extended an informal invitation to President Mahama during a courtesy call on him, followed by a formal letter sent on July 21, which the Presidency acknowledged on July 29.
By August 1, the Presidency confirmed in writing that the President had accepted the invitation to attend the Wa Bar Conference as Guest of Honour.
Despite this, the President failed to show up, raising speculation that his decision was a deliberate snub of the Association, which has been one of the most vocal critics of his decision to suspend Justice Torkornoo earlier this year and followed up with her dismissal.
Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonne, the beneficial of the Chief Justice’s removal was also missing having earlier accepted to attend just like Speaker Alban Bagbin, a prominent lawyer and a native of the host region, Upper West. They all promised to attend, but refused to show up at the last minute with no tangible reasons assigned, GBA sources said.
GBA vs. Presidency Over CJ Suspension
At its mid-year conference on April 26, 2025, the GBA passed a resolution describing the Chief Justice’s suspension as unconstitutional, warning that it would initiate legal action unless the directive was revoked.
According to the Association, President Mahama acted outside his constitutional limits when he suspended Justice Torkornoo under Article 146(10) without clear regulations in place, in breach of Article 296 of the Constitution.
The Bar also demanded the publication of the full decision establishing a prima facie case against the Chief Justice, insisting that transparency was critical for the integrity of the process.
The GBA’s strong position has since placed it on a collision course with the Presidency.
Attorney-General Fires Back
In Wa, where the conference nonetheless opened on Monday, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, openly questioned the GBA’s consistency in public advocacy.
He accused the Association of being selective in its interventions, recalling its silence during the removal processes of CHRAJ Commissioner Loretta Lamptey in 2015 and EC Chairperson Charlotte Osei in 2017.
Dr. Ayine argued that the same constitutional provisions applied in those cases, yet the GBA chose to remain quiet, only to find its voice when the matter involved the Chief Justice.
According to him, the timing and tone of the Bar’s interventions appeared to “amplify the voice of the opposition,” undermining its claim to impartiality.
GBA Defends Its Position
GBA President, Efua Ghartey, however, rejected suggestions of bias, maintaining that the suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo lacked fairness due to the absence of comprehensive regulations guiding such removals.
She reiterated that the GBA’s constitution enjoins members to protect the independence of the judiciary and that silence in the face of arbitrariness was not an option.
“The removal of the fourth-highest office holder in the land without clear, established rules sets a dangerous precedent. As custodians of justice, we cannot allow that to stand,” Ghartey told the Wa conference.
Wider Implications
Mahama’s no-show has now been interpreted by legal observers as a reflection of the deepening rift between the executive and the legal profession.
Analysts note that the President’s decision risks further eroding public confidence in both the judiciary and the executive at a time when Ghana is already grappling with heated debates about constitutionalism, separation of powers, and political accountability.
Meanwhile, the GBA prepares to host the African Bar Association’s continental conference in October, where over 800 lawyers are expected in Accra.
How the unresolved controversy over the Chief Justice removal will shape Ghana’s image on that international stage remains to be seen.
