Dr Justice Srem-Sai, the Deputy Attorney-General, has accused the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) of applying inconsistent standards in its criticism of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie over comments he made some weeks ago about state institutions.
The Deputy AG questioned why the GBA had criticised the current Chief Justice for remarks considered political while they failed to respond in the same manner to similar comments made by previous Chief Justices.
Speaking on Joy FM on September 14, 2026, Dr Srem-Sai stated, “The point that we made at the conference is that when it comes to independence or when it comes to consistency, the leadership of the Ghana Bar Association leaves much to be desired”.
“If the Ghana Bar Association is of the view that Chief Justices should not make comments that are seen as political, then anytime a Chief Justice or any judge makes such a comment, then the Ghana Bar Association should condemn it. But to condemn some and not condemn others, that is where the issue is,” he stated.
Dr Justice Srem-Sai stated, “So, our point is that if you decide to be quiet, then be prepared throughout. If you decide to talk, then talk throughout”.
“And then when you choose to talk when a particular comment favours your favourite, or you speak out when the particular comment is against your favourite, or it favours your opponent, then you are not being consistent. That is all the point we are trying to make,” he said.
When asked if he believed the GBA was politically aligned with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Srem-Sai stated, “We hope they are not. It is our prayer that they are truly not”.
He added, “The point we are making is that the perception or the reality seems to persist. They pick and choose as and when they want to criticise. All their picking and choosing seem to align to a particular political party’s interests. That’s the issue”.
“The very fact that they are even comparing the Chief Justice with the Ghana Bar Association and accusing the Chief Justice of being an NDC Chief Justice is an admission that they are aligned somehow with the Ghana Bar Association. And that settles the matter,” he stated.
He said it was “no surprise that the general public consistently views the Ghana Bar Association as not aligned to the general good of the country or aligned to the public good as a whole, but rather aligned to a particular section of the political divide.”
His comment follows the President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Efua Ghartey, who quoted a biblical admonition in expressing the Bar’s disappointment with remarks made by the Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, concerning state-owned enterprises.
According to the GBA president, although the Bar was reluctant to interpret the Chief Justice’s comments, his remarks have raised concerns among members of the legal profession.
Speaking at the Ghana Bar Association Conference 2026/27 in Ada on Monday, September 14, the GBA President, Efua Ghartey, expressed the association’s concerns, saying, “The recent commendation of a public institution and the comparison to a past government’s output, by no mean a person than the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, left much to be desired”.
We do not want to believe that what happened is a fulfilment of Matthew 12:34, which says, ‘Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh,’” she stated.
Ms Ghartey further fired a shot at the Judicial Secretary, saying the apparent attempt to explain or defend the Chief Justice’s comments was, at best, lacklustre.
“Respectfully, the Judicial Secretary’s attempted defence of the Chief Justice was, at best, lacklustre,” she said.
She further referred specifically to Article 128(4) of the 1992 Constitution to caution that the protection of judicial independence must be accompanied by respect for the constitutional limits placed on public office holders.
“The Bar wishes to serve a reminder that much as it is poised to protect the independence of the Judiciary, as per Article 128(4) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the guarded must stay within their bounds as dictated by their calling in the Constitution,” she said.
“And may I repeat that the guarded must stay within their bounds as dictated by their calling in the Constitution,” she added.
@ghnow_ The Vice President addresses guests at the national launch of the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER). #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Grace Ayensu, says President Mahama has guaranteed strong political leadership for the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER). #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
