Attorney General urges lawyers to defend democracy and electoral integrity

The Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame has emphasised the crucial role lawyers play in sustaining the country's democracy. 

He noted that lawyers were responsible for educating citizens on regulations affecting the conduct of elections.

Speaking at the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) conference in Kumasi on Monday, September 9, Mr Dame urged lawyers to help dispel misconceptions about the Electoral Commission (EC) rather than promoting falsehoods and reminded them of their duty to uphold the truth.

He further stressed that lawyers must resist attempts by those who unjustly question the EC's ability to conduct fair elections, urging the legal community to reject any rhetoric that could incite conflict.

“We must deplore, jettison and without any reservations, reject rhetoric which fans the flames of conflicts. Freedom is not free and it is up to us, here and now to ensure that the gains and trust of the past remain intact for generations of Ghanaians on board”, he added.

The Attorney General also reminded lawyers to maintain ethical conduct, especially in their interactions on social media.

“Technology did not eradicate ethics neither did it render the need for ethical compliance any less important or necessary”, he said.

Mr Dame reiterated the association's stance on lawyers who participate in media commentary or social media discussions, warning that the spread of false information by legal professionals pose a serious threat to societal cohesion.

“For lawyers who regularly appear as guests on media programmes and take to social media to run commentary, I will repeat our admonition again at the bench bar and faulty lecture in October 2022, that the spread of false information by lawyers and the disregard for the cherished values of legal profession apart from being disreputable posses a far greater threat to cohesion to society if it comes from lawyers”, he said.