Bribery allegation hits Ghana Bar Association’s upcoming election

The President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Yaw Acheampong Boafo, has alleged that there’s an attempt by some members aspiring to become executives of the association to bribe their way through to power.

According to him, the leadership of the association has become aware of some aspiring candidates attempting to induce the electorate with money to win power.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the annual Ghana Bar Association Conference in Kumasi on Monday, September 9, 2024, he condemned such moves.

He said, the association that many look up to for leadership must do the right thing at all times, especially as the country prepares to go to the polls soon to elect a president and parliamentarians to govern the country for the next four years.

He added that whatever has been said about the conditions that must exist to ensure a transparent, free, and fair election equally applies to their upcoming elections as a microcosm of what is to come in the December 7 general elections. 

“As usual, Ghanaians will be looking to the GBA for leadership as the general election approaches. Incidentally, in a few days we will be voting in our own election to select executives who will steer affairs of the GBA for the next three years. How do we show leadership in these times’? It is the noise of silence, the power of our example.

“We can only look to the nation and apply the legitimacy to speak truth to politicians if our own examples allow us to do so. How have we conducted ourselves, our campaign, and our collective conduct leading to the elections, simply put? Have we come to equity with clean hands?

“It is rather unfortunate that our conduct and campaigns leave much to be desired. We hear of partisan alignment, monetary inducement, vitriolic posts on WhatsApp platforms, and outlandish promises that cannot be possible within the provisions of the GBA constitution. Unfortunately, some of these unsavory matters have found their way into the mass media. It should be of great concern to every well-meaning member of the GBA,” Yaw Acheampong Kyei said.

He added that the GBA is a noble association of learned persons, and there’s no place in the association for such comments, which may be permissible in the realm of partisan politics.

The GBA President concluded by saying, “We lose our voice if we also behave like politicians. We must understand this basic principle. The GBA leads; the GBA does not follow.”