Speaker Bagbin did not state he has quit GBA – Law Society of Ghana

The Law Society of Ghana says the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has not quit the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), as is told by some media reports.

In a statement shared on the Facebook page of the Parliament of Ghana, the group said that when it paid a courtesy call on the Speaker on September 20, 2022, Hon Bagbin rather expressed his dislike about the state of the GBA. 

“It must be placed on record that nowhere in the Speaker’s welcoming remarks during our visit, did he ever state that he has resigned from the Ghana Bar Association (GBA). In his remarks, he expressed in strong words, his revulsion about the state of the GBA and wishes to see a change for a better Bar Association committed to the aims, objectives, and ethics as captured and practiced globally.

According to the Rt. Hon. Speaker, the GBA has now become too elitist, stressing that he used to pay his dues religiously until it came to his attention that any lawyer that had close association with the then *Public Tribunal Court* was not recognized and paid their last respects by the GBA, upon death. As a result, his interest in the GBA has diminished and with it the non-payment of his membership dues,” the statement signed by Rockson Dafeamekpor, Member of Parliament for the South Dayi Constituency and also interim President of the association said. 

The statement further noted that the purpose of the visit was to congratulate the Speaker, who was recently elected President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) as well as to introduce the association to him.

The Law Society of Ghana, reported to have been formed sometime in March, is said to be a rival association to the GBA. According to reports by Asaase Radio and other outlets, the group’s formation is essentially to break the monopoly of the GBA as the only professional association of lawyers.