GBA must re-live era of numerous constitutional actions today – Justice Jones Dotse
“In times of challenges and difficulty, the GBA has made its voice heard. Offering clarity and direction, shaping the national conversation and getting the right things done”
A Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, Justice Jones Mawulorm Dotse has urged the Ghana Bar Association to re-live its former life of numerous constitutional actions against various national issues today.
According to him, the GBA was for a very long time, the conscience of the nation however it is now quiet in instituting constitutional cases despite its records which are evident for all and sundry.
“In times of challenges and difficulty, the GBA has made its voice heard. Offering clarity and direction, shaping the national conversation, and getting the right things done.
For a very long time, the Ghana Bar Association acted as the conscience of the nation. When it speaks, everybody shivers.
The GBA however has been very quiet in instituting any constitutional cases of late. Many people have been wondering why the Bar is silent”
Speaking as a representative of the Chief Justice at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Annual Bar Conference at Ho yesterday, Justice Dotse noted that it is not for nothing that the nation expects this from its lawyers.
He added that even though the political parties are contributing to the same, the GBA’s position is seen as enlightened and non-partisan thus the need for the Association to speak up.
Additionally, he recounted a recent-past occurrence relative to the rejected motion on the election of MMDCEs in the country, which he expected the GBA to have spoken on the same to bring much clarity to the ordinary people.
“It makes sense therefore for me to urge the GBA to champion this movement again to state their views on some topical matters, for example, a few years ago, His excellency the President a motion for the election of MMDCEs. The debate was ongoing, in the national space when all of a sudden, there was a big U-turn by one of the major political parties and the request was withdrawn. Many of us expected the Bar Association to have spoken on that matter.”
Justice Jones Dotse also reiterated that in addition to their numerous roles, the Bar exists also to protect the democratic order to ensure that the mechanics of its operation are transparent and understood by all.
