Ghana Bar Association opens 2025/2026 annual Conference: Rule of Law, Judicial Independence takes centre stage

Published Septemeber 15, 2025

WA, UPPER WEST – The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) yesterday opened its 2025/2026 Annual General Conference in Wa, Upper West Region, under the theme “Sustaining the 4th Republican Constitutional Democracy: The Role of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession.”

The ceremony drew an impressive gathering of Ghana’s legal and political leadership. Among the dignitaries were Hon. Dr. Dominic Ayine, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Upper West Regional Minister and the Wa Naa. Other dignitaries included Justice Emmanuel Yoni Kulendi a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, Anthony Forson, Former GBA president and senior member of the bar and the bench.

Notably, Barbara Mills KC, President of the Bar Council of England and Wales, joined the conference via zoom, emphasising that “access to justice is the root of democracy. it is critical that the judiciary seen to be independent”

Bar President on the Rule of Law and Internal Renewal

Addressing members, GBA President Efua Ghartey stressed that “the principle of the rule of law cannot be undermined.” She noted that the state of the Bar is strong and healthy, with members welfare receiving renewed attention.

Notably, this year’s conference provided nursery services for the first time, signalling a modern, family-friendly approach. Ghartey also announced that the GBA will host the African Bar in October, calling it a challenge the Association is ready to embrace.

Turning to constitutional issues, she observed that Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution-which governs the removal of superior-court judges-has come under a lot of scrutiny and rightfully so. The GBA, she said, had urged immediate regulations to guide the process, but that advice was not heeded. Consequently, the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo proceeded under the very process the Bar had urged to reform.

Attorney-General on Legal Education Reform

On his part, Dr. Ayine revealed that a Legal Education Reform Bill will be laid before Cabinet this month. Its aim is to expand access to legal education and reduce the professional-training duration from five years to four.

The Attorney-General also observed that while the Bar was silent during the removal of former Electoral Commission Chair Charlotte Osei, it became vocal when petitions were issued against the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo echoing, in the perception of some, the voice of the opposition.” 

Quoting Lord Denning, he reminded the Bar that “justice is rooted in confidence, and confidence is destroyed when right-minded people go away thinking: the judge was biased. This applies to the GBA as well. Let the Bar Association remain the nation’s conscience.”

Call forJudicial  Infrastructure in the Upper West

Host-region’s GBA President  used the platform to appeal to the National Bar and Government for critical judicial infrastructure. He observed that Wa has only one High Court, three Circuit Courts and five District Courts, and that the High Court complex which begun two decades ago remains incomplete.

The Bar’s Enduring Role

Formed 40 years ago, the Ghana Bar Association remains the foremost professional association of lawyers in the country. By convention, every lawyer admitted to practice is a member. The Annual Conference serves as a national stock-taking, a forum for resolutions on legal and policy issues.

With Wa now the nation’s legal capital for the week, attention turns to the discussions and resolutions that could shape Ghana’s constitutional democracy and the Bar’s professional standards for years to come.