GBA to accept 'prodigal' members

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has decided to grant amnesty to all lawyers who were sanctioned for defying the association's resolution debarring members from attending the defunct Peoples Tribunals of the erstwhile PNDC era.

Such lawyers can, however, only be re-admitted into the association if they write a formal letter to the general council of the Bar, apologise for their behaviour.

Mr. J. Ebow Quashie, National President of the GBA said this in a statement released at Sunyani on Monday after touring the Eastern, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions.

Accompanied by other national executives, Mr. Quashie interacted with the members of the regional branch of the association and judges. They also met with leading political figures in the three regions.

Giving the rationale for the amnesty, Mr. Quashie said "with the spirit of reconciliation blowing all over the country, it has become necessary that the association extends an olive branch to members who erred in the past".

He said:" The association is made up of people from all political persuasions and it is important that we put the past behind us and unite for the progress of the profession and national development".

Mr. Quashie announced that a number of measures are being taken to strengthen the association, including the acquisition of a 120 million cedis "freehold property" for renovation as a national secretariat.

"Moves are also being made to have a legislation that will empower the association to discipline erring members".

The National President urged politicians to demonstrate their commitment to the administration of justice by providing adequate facilities for the effective operation of the legal system.

On behalf of the association, Mr. Quashie presented a cheque for five million cedis to the Accra Stadium disaster relief fund through the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. S.K. Boafo