The Silence Of The Ghana Bar Association On Ag Leaked Tape Worrying ASEPA

It’s been over 48 hours since the National Democratic Congress released incontrovertible evidence confirming a witness tampering allegation against the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Republic of Ghana and we are yet to see a single statement from the Bar Association either condemning or dissociating itself from the conduct of the Attorney General who is the head of Bar.

In the not so distant past, we have heard the voice of the Bar Association on issues that are of far less implication for our criminal justice system than the current embarrassing spectacle brewing from the AG’s own pot.

ASEPA as a human rights organization that have been advocating for serious reforms in our criminal justice system and promoting judicial accountability, social justice and judicial equity have been scandalized by the conduct of the Attorney General.
For an Attorney General and a Minister of Justice to be caught on tape, deliberately and viciously coaching a witness to adduce false evidence to ascertain a wrongful conviction of a possible innocent accused person in a trial is an ominous dagger in the heart of the very role of a Minister of Justice.

We are therefore adding our voice to the many voices calling on the AG to resign or be sacked by the President, a touted human rights lawyer who claims has fought on the side of people on the other side of the AG’s vicious venom.

Even more worrying than the conduct of the Attorney General, is the silence of the Ghana Bar Association and the Presidency, reducing this troubling development to a banter between the two main political parties.
As a CSO we are aware of the millions of dollars international organizations spend in our Country every year to support CSOs and Governmental Agencies to promote social equality, prevent human rights violations and promote justice delivery, the AG’s conduct has therefore undermined the steady progress we have made in these areas of key interest to our development partners and the international community at large and therefore deserves nothing but utter condemnation from all including the Bar Association and other Stakeholders of the Judiciary.

It will be a further dent on the image of the Country if the Bar Association never finds its often skewed ruthless voice in this ongoing spectacle, everyone is watching!!!

Mensah Thompson
Executive Director, ASEPA
0542120628Executive Director, ASEPA