The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has condemned Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin for his public criticism of a Circuit Court judge presiding over the case of Bono Regional NPP Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC.
GBA Spokesperson Saviour Kudze described the Minority Leader’s remarks as unprofessional, unethical, and unbecoming of a senior member of the Bar.
“It is very unpalatable and unbecoming of a senior lawyer of his standing at the Bar, particularly so a senior lawyer who is privileged enough to be the Minority Leader of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana,” Kudze said.
He added that Afenyo-Markin, who is also a chief, should reflect on the kind of example he is setting for his constituents.
The GBA’s reaction follows a press conference held by the Minority Leader on Sunday, May 17, during which he openly criticised the judge for continuously remanding Abronye DC. Afenyo-Markin questioned the judge’s competence and declared that he would continue to “disrespect” him until he “upholds the law.” He also challenged the judge to cite him for contempt if he felt offended.
Responding to the comments, Saviour Kudze stressed that there are proper legal channels available to challenge judicial decisions.
“As a lawyer, if his complaint is that a judge has acted in a way not within the ambit of the law, this is not the way he should go, especially somebody like him,” Kudze noted.
“The appellate system is not there for fun. If the judge didn’t act within his jurisdiction, he knew what to do. He shouldn’t go to the press.”
The GBA spokesperson further accused Afenyo-Markin of violating professional ethics by publicly questioning the competence and qualifications of a sitting judge.
“We are disappointed, and he has acted very unprofessionally and unethically because, per our etiquette rules, we don’t do things like this by attacking the qualifications or competence of a judge,” he added.