The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has condemned the mayhem that occurred in Parliament during the election of the Speaker of Parliament.
Chaos erupted in Parliament 6th January 2021 during the election of the Speaker of Parliament, which resulted in armed military personnel storming parliament to restore order.
The heavily armed personnel were, however, chased out by some MPs who chanted the national anthem while some MPs were seen speaking to the military to move back.
A statement signed by the President for the Association, Anthony Forsonn Jnr, expressed disappointment in the fact that some elected representatives of Ghanaians would engage in such acts of misconduct and bring the Parliament of Ghana into disrepute.
The association described the actions of the Members of Parliament as a blight on the democratic credentials of Ghana, which is a shining example on the African continent.
“The actions of the Members of Parliament are a blight on the democratic credentials of Ghana, which is a shining example on the African continent. It is the expectation of the GBA that there will be no such chaotic and disorderly scenes in Parliament in future, and that the Parliamentarians will always strive to safeguard Ghana’s democratic credentials”, the statement added.
Read full statement below:
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) hereby wishes to condemn unreservedly the mayhem that occurred in Parliament during the election of the Speaker of Parliament. The GBA finds it worrying that some elected representatives of Ghanaians would engage in such acts of misconduct and bring the Parliament of Ghana into disrepute.
The actions of the Members of Parliament are a blight on the democratic credentials of Ghana, which is a shining example on the African continent. It is the expectation of the GBA that there will be no such chaotic and disorderly scenes in Parliament in future, and that the Parliamentarians will always strive to safeguard Ghana’s democratic credentials.
The Bar has read and viewed with great concern, accusations made in the media in recent times with respect to the judiciary. The Bar finds the allegations offensive and distasteful.
They incite hatred among the public with regard to the Judges, expose them to ridicule and put them into disrepute. Such allegations with respect to the Judiciary undermine the integrity of and erode public confidence in the justice delivery process, and may result in lawlessness.
On Sunday 10th January 2021, the Member of Parliament for Asawase, Honourable Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, made an allegation of bribery concerning and touching a Supreme Court Judge relative to the election of the Speaker of Parliament.
The GBA finds the comments totally unacceptable and hereby calls on Honourable Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka to substantiate the allegation or retract same and apologise to the Justices of the Supreme Court in particular, and the Judiciary in general.
The GBA wishes to state that even though the 1992 Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, that freedom should be exercised with circumspection and should not be used to incite hatred or to subject the Judiciary to ridicule and contempt.
We wish to take this opportunity to urge Ghanaians to be circumspect with respect to statements made regarding public officers and persons occupying positions of trust.
They may be criticised but the criticisms should be constructive and not disparaging and demeaning. Public servants must also act in a manner to inspire confidence in the general polity.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa