LINSOD Accuses GBA Of Getting In Bed With Judges Against Lawyers

Interest group, Lawyers In Search Of Democracy (LINSOD) has taken on Ghana Bar Association over the GBA’s attack on Madina MP, Francis Xavier Sosu following Mr. Sosu’s warning to political judges.

In a statement responding to the GBA, LINSOD accuses the Association of issuing a political statement and betraying its own members in the interest of judges against whom the GBA should be protecting members.

“Lawyers in Search of Democracy (LINSOD) have seen and read a statement issued by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) purporting to condemn the comments made by Hon. Francis Xavier-Sosu, MP for Madina Constituency and we are at a loss as to what exactly the GBA wants to achieve by its statement,” LINSOD said.

The group warned the GBA to “desist from issuing political statements in the name of the Ghana Bar Association. Since when did the GBA become the mouthpiece of the Judges, if we may ask?”

The statement is signed by LINSOD’s interim president, Lawyer James Abiaduka, interim Secretary, Lawyer Theophilus Jojo Dzimega Jr, and Lawyer Isaac M Larbi.

Last week Thursday, Lawyer Francis Xavier Sosu who is also the MP for Madina had warned politically biased judges that they should be ready to follow the regime they are serving into opposition when the government leaves office.

The statement which was made in an interview that the MP granted after the ‘Yentua’ demonstration against the e-levy, attracted a rebuke from the GBA which attacked the MP.

According to LINSOD, some of its members have experienced political judgments from Ghana’s courts, affirming that indeed there are political judges.

“Indeed, LINSOD has lawyers which form its membership core and these practicing lawyers each day have encountered numerous political and “other” decisions emanating from our courts which is a source of concern and should be the concern of the GBA if it is minded to create an environment where lawyers work would thrive daily and continuously.”

LINSOD accused the GBA of sacrificing its own members to the benefit of the judiciary.

“The GBA as an Association has basically abandoned its duty of protecting the welfare of its members to be indirectly promoting the interest of the judiciary. This statement we have seen from the GBA, the subject of which is the basis of our response, is a clear example of what the GBA has become today,” LINSOD wrote.