The National President of Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Yaw Acheampong Boafo, has appealed to the masses to stop defending and covering up for people, especially those in the public service, who suddenly become rich and acquire properties without questioning how they came by them.
According to him, the public must rise up to the call and defend the interest of the country against individuals occupying public offices and have amassed wealth overnight.
Addressing a post-national conference on national issues and matters arising in Accra, yesterday, he said corruption permeates all levels of the public sector and social arrangements, adding: “There is even the fear that corruption has become normalised.”
He added that: “It is fair to say that our public service and offices are riddled with bribery, embezzlement and corruption. Procurement breaches are rife, serving as a steady flow of questionable wealth for some public officers.”
He said the evidence could be found in the Auditor-General’s annual reports, but the narrative is against President Akuful-Addo’s assurance to Ghanaians that his government has no place for people who hope to profit from it.
Regrettably, he added that the lethargic manner, with which the current administration was dealing with allegations of corruption and even defending and protecting, leaves much to be desired.
Mr. Boafo suggested that in order to nip corruption in the bud, the appointing authorities must ensure that people with integrity and competence are given the opportunity to serve in public and political office.
The GBA President further proposed a swift passage of the Conduct of Public Officers Bill, which will ensure and instil a culture of accountability and integrity in public officers.
“We must have a system where laws and sanctions for breaches are consistently and fairly enforced and where people in public offices who embezzle resources are dealt with, according to law,” he stressed.
He also urged that the public must consider going back to the basics, by imbuing in their children the cultural and social norms, values and virtues of honest labour, decency and integrity.
GBA slow to response to national issues
The national GBA president also disabused the mind of the public about the notion that the Association only pick and choose subjects to comment on.
According to him, the Association has learned overtime to check, cross-check and engage before coming out with statements on public interest issues.
“The seeming reticence of the GBA to act may be seen as deliberate inaction. However, it is not so. Recent experiences have taught us to be absolutely sure of factual situations before commenting,” he emphasised.
Attacks on the Judiciary & legal profession
He pointed out that the GBA has never been responsible for the contents of the speech of the President of the Republic, hence it could not be held responsible for what he says on their platforms.
Mr. Boafo apportioned blame at the doorsteps of overtly partisan members of the GBA, who were not present in Cape Coast to attend the conference, but chose to denigrate the Association in the media.
He condemned attacks on the judiciary, particularly individuals who have elected to malign the third arm of government.
The GBA president recounted how the Supreme Court was referred to as “Unanimous FC”, as well as the description of the immediate past Chief Justice as the “worst Chief Justice ever,” and lawyers of a particular political tradition were discriminated against when they appeared before Judges.
“As if that was not enough, this year we are being told that the requirement to be appointed to the District Court Bench, the Circuit Court Bench, the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court is by being a member of the political party in power and that this “policy” will be replicated in the event of a change in government,” he said.
Mr. Boafo stated that there is no virtue in sacrificing the legal profession and the Judiciary on the altar of partisan politics.
Intemperate Language in the media space
He advised that as much as freedom of expression and pluralistic media is guaranteed and protected under the 1992 Constitution, it should not be lost on the public that such a right is a corresponding and even a greater deal of responsibility and circumspection.
“Democracy is not a synonym for chaos and indiscipline; it is not a byword for anarchy. Democracy and order are not odd bedfellows. We, therefore, cannot hide behind democracy and engage in all manner of indecent and indisciplined behaviour,” he warned.
