The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has denied reports that it has deliberately sidelined President John Dramani Mahama and has not invited him for the 2025 Bar Conference.
The reaction follows criticism from some members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), including the Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Etse Dafeamekpor, who has claimed that the Ghana Bar Association , has been showing “blatant bias” against President Mahama and the NDC.
Mr Dafeamekpor, himself a lawyer and a member of the Ghana Bar Association argued that the advertised line-up of speakers for the 2025 Ghana Bar annual conference expected to take place in Wa in the Upper West Region failed to accord President Mahama the prominence given to his predecessor, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, during his tenure. He claimed the decision reflected what he described as the Bar’s longstanding hostility towards the NDC.
“I saw how the GBA organised its Annual Conference from 2017 to 2024. The then President, Nana Akufo-Addo, was nearly always the Special Guest of Honour and Speaker. That isn’t the case in 2025. The President is conspicuously missing from the list of advertised speakers,” he stated.
The MP also criticised the invitation extended to the Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales, suggesting the move was questionable given recent criticisms of the Mahama administration by the body in relation to the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
But in a statement jointly signed by the National President, Mrs Efua Ghartey, and National Secretary, Kwaku Gyau Baffour, dated August 21, the GBA dismissed the allegations as “false and misleading”. It stressed that President Mahama has been formally invited as Special Guest of Honour and has accepted the invitation.
The association explained that the invitation was first extended during a courtesy call on the President in March 2025, followed by seven formal letters in July. It added that the Presidency confirmed acceptance in early August.
According to the GBA, the President’s absence from initial publicity materials was because his office had not yet responded at the time. It said subsequent communications had acknowledged his participation, in line with its usual practice.
“The GBA will not do anything to undermine the respect and dignity of the Office of the President,” the statement said, urging the public to disregard attempts to create tension between the Association and the Presidency.
This year’s conference, to be held in Wa in the Upper West Region, will be on the theme “Ensuring Ethical Law Practice in a Digital Era.” Expected participants include the Chief Justice, the Attorney General, the British High Commissioner, and the Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales.
