Renowned legal practitioner Thaddeus Sory has criticised the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) over a statement it issued in response to criticism of the directive by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for some justices to continue hearing cases they are presiding over during the legal vacation.
According to Sory, the GBA’s statement does not represent the views of all lawyers in the country, including himself.
He argued that the association’s decision to side with lawyers involved in the cases was discriminatory, noting that he and many other lawyers have appeared in court during the legal vacation without receiving any reaction from the association.
'45 years at the Bar and I’ve never seen this' - Ayikoi Otoo on legal vacation trials
He claimed that the association had never come to his aid when he found himself in difficult situations but was quick to react when certain personalities were involved.
“For me, reacting to it in that way doesn't make any sense. And I've said before that, as a member, I don't think they represent me because in every situation that I was in trouble, I never saw them… They represent some people. I have never felt represented by them because I said in many instances in which I was in trouble as their member, I didn't even get a solidarity call, nor even when I met them casually, they did not say, ‘Oh, we've seen what you are going through, but don't you think we should do it one way or another or something like that?’” he said.
He added: “But I rather see you on the other side fighting against me, your member. So when they state that, I have no respect for it. I'm sorry. I have no respect for it.”
Sory further expressed disappointment in the statement issued by the Bar, arguing that the appropriate approach would have been for the association to engage the Chief Justice directly on the matter.
“I’m honestly disappointed. But unfortunately, that's my profession, and that's the association that I belong to. But they must also understand that I should be able to criticise them,” he added.
Watch a video of his remarks below (from 33:00)
BAI
Government upholds revocation of Adamus Mine lease
Copyright © 1994 - 2026 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
