Private legal practitioner, Justice Abdulai has publicly distanced himself from a resolution by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) which condemned the suspension of Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, describing the resolution as meritless and irrelevant to Ghana’s constitutional processes.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, May 3, Justice Abdulai intimated “I was not part of the 47 that voted for the resolution, that I can confidently say with certainty. I completely disagree with the resolution and every single letter in the passed resolution.”
Although acknowledging that he may be bound by the collective nature of the Bar Association’s decision, Abdulai firmly rejected any personal endorsement or support for it.
“I may be bound because it is a collective decision, and so I may be bound with the content of it, but I will never, under any circumstances, advance any argument in its favour or even attempt to subscribe to the resolution. Because it is completely wrong,” he noted.
He further questioned the relevance of the GBA’s position, asserting that it has no real impact on the matter at hand.
“I do not find any merit in the argument being made by the Association. It has no bearing on the decision that has been made by the Council of State or the executive.” he said.
He further called for reform within the GBA.
“I think we can evolve and do better as an Association, then make ourselves more relevant to the body politic of Ghana.”
The Ghana Bar Association on April 29 called for the immediate revocation of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s suspension, labelling the action unconstitutional and without legal foundation under the 1992 Constitution.
However, Justice Abdulai has questioned both the substance and significance of the GBA’s intervention.
