The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has called for a critical re-examination of the relationship between the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the state.

According to the Attorney General, the bar’s quasi-constitutional role within the state bureaucracy undermines the principle of equality.

Delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Ghana Bar Conference in Tamale, on Monday, September 15, 2025, Dr Ayine emphasised the need for the bar to maintain its independence to uphold its role as the moral conscience of the nation.

In his remarks, Dr Ayine highlighted the bar’s unique position within Ghana’s constitutional framework, noting that its integration into state bureaucratic structures compromises its professional independence.

LIVESTREAMED: Attorney General speaks at 2025 Ghana Bar Conference

“The quasi-constitutional nature of the Bar places it at the center of our state bureaucracy, and by extension, our politics. This deprives the Bar of the requisite independence to be truly professional,” he stated.

He argued that this arrangement contradicts Article 17 of the constitution, which guarantees equality of treatment for all professional bodies.

Dr Ayine described the bar’s entanglement in state structures as a “self-serving ingratiation” that clouds the principle of equality.

“The constitution was written by and for us, but this self-serving integration of the Bar into the bureaucratic structures of the state undermines the principle of equality,” he said.

He urged the GBA to reassess this model to ensure the Bar remains an impartial and independent voice in Ghana’s constitutional democracy.

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The Attorney General also underscored the pivotal role of the legal profession in Ghana’s future, linking the integrity of the Bar to the stability of the republic.

“The destiny of Ghana is tied to the integrity of our legal profession. If we stand firm, this republic will stand firm. If we falter, this republic will stumble,” he said.

Dr Ayine called on the GBA to recommit to the ideals of justice, integrity, freedom, and service, urging the association to remain the “living conscience of the nation.”

The 2025 Ghana Bar Conference, being held in Tamale, brings together legal practitioners, judges, and stakeholders to discuss the role of the legal profession in advancing Ghana’s constitutional democracy.

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