The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Efua Ghartey, has called on members to closely observe the ongoing proceedings concerning the potential removal of the Chief Justice, stressing the need to ensure that justice is not only delivered but also clearly seen to be done.
Speaking at the Association’s mid-year conference, Ms. Ghartey highlighted the unprecedented nature of the proceedings and urged the Bar to take an active role in educating the public about the legal process involved.
“One such issue, which is currently on the lips of Ghanaians as a result of the publicity associated with the process triggered for the removal of the Chief Justice, is what is a prima facie case?” she noted.
She added: “This process is a novel one in our history as a country, and we, the Bar, must continue to monitor the situation and not hesitate to express our opinion on it where the circumstances demand. It is important that in such matters, justice is not only done but manifestly be seen to have been done.”
In a related development, the GBA announced its intention to lead efforts to establish clear rules and guidelines for the removal of Article 71 office holders, including judges.
Ms. Ghartey stated that the Association would submit proposals aimed at eliminating arbitrariness and ensuring greater transparency in such processes.
“It is about time that these guidelines were produced, in order to eliminate arbitrariness in such proceedings, which ought to be held expeditiously and possibly in open court, given the necessary publicity such matters attract. The Bar must take the lead and make proposals in this regard,” she said.
