Attorney General and Minister of Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame has urged the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to actively defend the judiciary from external pressures and influence, highlighting the need to protect its independence and integrity.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected President and executives of the GBA in Accra on November 4, Dame emphasized the critical role of the association in upholding judicial autonomy. He called on the GBA to not only safeguard the judiciary but also to denounce any attempts to sway or interfere with judicial decisions.
“The Bar must prevent and condemn every act of illegal pressure on the judiciary,” Dame stated, stressing the responsibility of legal professionals to resist efforts that could compromise the courts’ impartiality.
He warned against what he described as “unscrupulous persons” who, through baseless criticisms, seek to erode public confidence in the judiciary. Such actions, Dame noted, undermine the foundational values and credibility of Ghana’s justice system.
Mr. Dame also pointed to the increasing importance of the GBA and the broader legal community in maintaining the “dignity and authority” of Ghana’s legal institutions. He stressed that preserving the judiciary’s image and function was essential for public confidence in the legal system.
Mr. Dame urged the GBA’s leadership to create a legal environment in which justice can be administered without interference, reinforcing that an independent judiciary is a pillar of democracy and rule of law in Ghana.
