By Ghana News 
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has strongly criticized Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin for making highly inappropriate public remarks targeting a sitting judge. Speaking on Joy FM, GBA Public Relations Officer Saviour Kudze made it clear that the association will not tolerate senior lawyers who deliberately undermine judicial independence. Kudze emphasized that the Effutu lawmaker’s combative statements are entirely unacceptable for a public official of his professional standing.
The heavy professional pushback follows an aggressive press conference where Afenyo-Markin openly condemned a Circuit Court judge’s decision to remand NPP Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC. The senior advocate boldly stated he had zero respect for the magistrate, accusing him of playing politics and failing to interpret the law accurately. The GBA firmly countered that any legal practitioner who disagrees with a ruling must use the formal appeals system rather than launching toxic media campaigns.
Adding fuel to the political fire, Minister of State Felix Kwakye Ofosu instantly hit back at the legal association, accusing them of maintaining a pattern of selective silence. Ofosu argued that the GBA frequently displays partisan bias, only finding its voice when high-profile opposition figures or independent actors critique state institutions. This ongoing clash has reignited a critical national debate regarding the separation of powers and the vulnerability of the judiciary during intense electoral cycles.
The sharp dispute between the Ghana Bar Association and the political elite reminds us that judicial independence remains a fragile element of our democratic system. While robust criticism of state decisions is completely healthy, attacking the personal competence of magistrates threatens the entire rule of law. If senior lawyers continue to bypass legal channels to settle scores in the court of public opinion, everyday citizens will eventually lose all confidence in the justice system.
Also Read: I have no respect for the judge at Circuit Court 9 – Afenyo-Markin