Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai has challenged the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to apply the same standard whenever Chief Justices or judges make comments considered political.
His comments come after GBA President Efua Ghartey criticised Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie over remarks praising state-owned enterprises under the current administration and comparing them with the previous government.
Ghartey said the Chief Justice’s comments “left much to be desired” and also criticised the Judicial Secretary’s defence of the remarks.
But Srem-Sai said the GBA cannot condemn one judicial officer for making comments viewed as political while remaining silent when similar comments are made by others.
“If the Ghana Bar Association is of the view that Chief Justices should not make comments that are seen as political, then anytime a Chief Justice or any judge makes such a comment, then the Ghana Bar Association should condemn it,” he said.
“But to condemn some and not condemn others, that is where the issue is.”
He said the Bar’s position should not depend on whether a particular comment favours one political side or another.
“So, our point is that if you decide to be quiet, then be prepared throughout. If you decide to talk, then talk throughout,” he said.
Srem-Sai accused the GBA leadership of allowing political considerations to influence when it chooses to criticise judicial officers.
“And then when you choose to talk when a particular comment favours your favourite, or you speak out when the particular comment is against your favourite, or it favours your opponent, then you are not being consistent,” he said.
