Lawyer and former Member of Parliament for the Tamale Central constituency, Inusah Fuseini, has launched a scathing critique of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), accusing it of failing to meet public expectations and becoming increasingly political.
“There are several things they did, or failed to do, that convince me the association has become political. Around 2001 or 2002, I read a statement issued by the Ghana Bar Association. They said they would not comment on political cases, essentially meaning they wouldn’t hold the government accountable,” Fuseini said.
Speaking in an interview with TV3 on Thursday, October 16, 2025, Fuseini stated that the association’s perceived bias, particularly its silence under the previous NPP administration and vocal stance during NDC government, has eroded public trust.
Citing specific examples, he recalled that during the tenure of former President John Kufuor, the Bar Association declared it would refrain from commenting on political matters. However, during the administration of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, the association was notably outspoken.
“If the Ghana Bar Association isn’t living up to my expectations, and I no longer see the value in being a member, then I have every right to shift my allegiance to another group with similar objectives. That’s a legitimate choice,” he said.
Fuseini also pointed to the association’s silence during the tenure of former President Nana Akufo-Addo, particularly in the cases involving the removal of former Auditor-General Daniel Domelovo and former Electoral Commission Chairperson Charlotte Osei.
“Under Rawlings’ constitutional rule, they were very vocal. Akufo-Addo is the only president the Supreme Court has ruled acted unconstitutionally in the matter of Domelovo’s suspension or dismissal. Yet, the Bar Association issued no strong statement.
“When faceless petitioners called for Charlotte Osei’s removal, what did the Bar Association say? When the NPP is in office, their guns are silent. When the NDC is in office, they turn their guns on the NDC. You don’t need to look far to see the bias,” he asserted.
Fuseini described the growing public perception of bias within the GBA as deeply unfortunate.
“For the Bar Association to sink so low and be perceived by the majority as playing ball with the NPP is very unfortunate. It undermines the intentions of the drafters of the Constitution, who envisioned the Ghana Bar Association as a credible constitutional body,” he said.
He concluded by reaffirming his stance that those who choose to align with alternative legal bodies are justified.
“If the Ghana Bar Association is no longer meeting my expectations or giving me a credible voice, I have every right to shift my allegiance and membership to another group,” he stated.
By: Beatrice Sowah
