During the swearing-in of the new Ghana Bar Association (GBA) executives on November 4, Attorney-General Godfred Dame emphasized the responsibility of legal professionals to uphold ethical standards and preserve the integrity of the legal profession. Dame highlighted that the privilege of practicing law requires a strong moral and legal commitment to maintain the profession’s dignity, calling on the GBA to combat any unprincipled actions that may tarnish its reputation.
He urged the Bar to maintain the highest ethical standards to sustain the nobility of the profession, adding that practitioners must be vigilant against individuals attempting to undermine the judiciary. “You must guard against unscrupulous persons who tarnish the Judiciary’s image. Only then will the purity, dignity, and majesty of our courts be preserved,” he stated.
Dame also underscored the challenging role judges play in making decisions on complex issues, stressing the importance of their experience, training, and discipline in ensuring justice. He reminded attendees that in Ghana, sovereignty resides with the people, as outlined in Article 1 of the Constitution, and that no institution or individual, including the President, is above the law.
Reiterating the Constitution’s supremacy, he cautioned that all institutions must align their activities with Ghanaian law, warning that noncompliance would render actions unconstitutional. The Attorney-General assured support for the judiciary’s crucial role in upholding democracy and warned that the General Legal Council would take firm action against lawyers who undermine judicial authority.
Finally, Dame expressed confidence in the newly sworn-in GBA executives, encouraging them to fulfill their duties with commitment, professionalism, and dedication to the public, the Bench, and the Bar.
