Let all lawyers vote – Kwaku Azar pushes for overhaul of GBA’s entrenched power

Legal scholar Professor Kwaku Azar is calling for major changes in Ghana. He wants a new way to represent lawyers in constitutional and public institutions. He argues that the current system gives the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) too much power.

Azar stated that it is unfair for a private group like the GBA to hold such influence. The GBA can nominate members to important bodies, including the Judicial Council and the Council of State. “The GBA is a private association,” he said. “Membership is not mandatory, yet it acts as if it represents all lawyers.”

He believes this must change and insists that all lawyers should vote on their representatives. Azar proposes that representatives be chosen through a democratic process involving all licensed lawyers in Ghana, not just those with GBA membership.

His proposal is part of the Governance of Ghana Organisation (GOGO) reform agenda. It aims to replace references to the GBA in the Constitution with provisions allowing all lawyers to nominate and vote for their representatives.

Azar criticized the GBA’s exclusive privileges as “a monopoly of voice.” He called it “a historical accident” that does not fit modern democratic values. “There is no reason for a private body to act as a proxy for an entire profession,” he stated.

He pointed out that other professions, like doctors and engineers, do not have this power under the Constitution. “Why should lawyers be any different?” he asked.

Azar's proposal includes several key points:

1. Creating an independent roll of all licensed lawyers.
2. Allowing all lawyers to nominate candidates.
3. Establishing transparent election procedures.
4. Enforcing term limits for elected legal representatives.

“This debate isn’t about the GBA’s history,” he emphasized. “It’s about future democratic legitimacy and fair representation.”

His call comes amid criticism of the GBA's political stance and lack of accountability on national issues, especially regarding ongoing judicial controversies.

Professor Azar believes it's time for Ghana to democratize legal representation. “No private club should speak for all lawyers,” he said. “Representation must come from votes, not voluntary membership.” He stressed that inclusion and accountability are essential for the future of the legal profession.