2024/2025 BAR Conference begins as Chief Justice admonish stakeholder in elections to abide by the rules

Published September 10, 2024

KUMASI, ASH-The 2024/2025 annual general conference of the Ghana Bar Association commenced yesterday under the theme, “Peaceful, fair and transparent election: Key to sustainable democracy”.

The occasion was graced by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo and his Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Asantehene. Other dignitaries included the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, the Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame and some Senior Members of the Superior Court of Judicature.

Speaking on theme of the conference, the Chief Justice underscored the need for electoral stakeholders “to come to the electoral process with full recognition and appreciation of the legal regimes surrounding who qualifies to stand as a candidate, what makes a vote valid or invalid, what is the proper procedure for commencing all types of electoral claims?

The Chief Justice further stated that “the judiciary has always played its part in the electoral process by not only resolving disputes over registrations, dispute over parliamentary elections and dispute over presidential elections but also, maintaining a standing elections management committee chaired by a supreme court judge”

Finally, the Chief Justice noted in her speech that since 2008, the judiciary has produced a compendium of relevant electoral statute and case law as a guide for stakeholders.

On his part, The outgoing Bar President Mr. Yaw Boafo, observed that democracy has afforded many opportunities to Ghanaians and urge political leaders and their hirelings who appear on campaign platforms and in the media  to be measured and circumspect in their utterances. and actions so as not to hurt and jeopardize the peace stability and progress in the country

Formally constituted some 39 years ago,  Ghana Bar Association (GBA) is the foremost professional association of lawyers in Ghana.

By convention, all lawyers admitted to practice become automatic members of the association. The annual Conference serves as the converging point for lawyers to take stock of the past legal year, reach resolutions and elect officers for the ensuing legal year.