Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has accused the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) of abandoning its professional neutrality and drifting into partisan politics.

Addressing the Association’s annual conference in Wa, Dr. Ayine said he was disappointed with what he described as the Bar’s inconsistent advocacy and selective interventions on constitutional matters.

“We must remember that our allegiance is first and foremost to the Constitution and this Republic, not to transient political interests,” he told members. “Our Republic continues to test the resilience of its democratic institutions, and while the Bar has played a crucial role in assisting the Supreme Court to interpret and enforce the Constitution, its advocacy outside the courtroom has lacked consistency—raising questions about its adherence to principle.”

Dr. Ayine argued that the GBA has failed to demonstrate fairness on critical national issues, often reflecting the voice of the opposition rather than maintaining neutrality. He accused the Association of becoming “self-serving,” prioritising its own interests above those of the profession and wider society.

Citing examples, the Attorney-General noted the Bar’s silence during the removal of former Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, and her deputies, contrasting it with its recent vocal opposition to the removal process of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

“In 2015, when an Article 146 petition was received regarding the then-Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the Bar failed to speak out. In 2017, when an Article 146 petition led to the removal of Mrs. Charlotte Osei and her deputies, the Bar again saw no basis to raise concerns over due process. Yet in very recent times, when similar petitions were brought regarding Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, the Bar suddenly found its voice,” Dr. Ayine stated.

He added that all three cases involved respected women occupying critical constitutional offices, yet the GBA chose to act only in one instance.

“The honest question we must ask is: what changed? Coincidentally, the voice of the Bar in the third case amplified the voice of the opposition,” he said.

Dr. Ayine concluded by challenging the GBA to re-examine its role and return to consistent, principle-based advocacy that upholds the Constitution rather than political expediency.