Dafeamekpor, Others Sue GBA Over Alleged Monopoly in Legal Representation

South Dayi MP and Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, together with lawyer Israel Tetteh and the Ghana Law Society, has filed a writ at the Supreme Court challenging the Ghana Bar Association’s (GBA) exclusive status as the official representative of lawyers in Ghana.

The case, filed on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, invokes the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction under Articles 2(1) and 130(1) of the 1992 Constitution. The plaintiffs argue that the GBA, which is essentially a private voluntary association, should not be recognised as the sole body representing legal practitioners in the country.

They are seeking seven declarations, including a clarification that references to the “Ghana Bar Association” in the Constitution and the Legal Profession Act should be interpreted broadly as a generic or umbrella term, not limited to the current GBA.

The plaintiffs contend that giving one private association exclusive recognition violates the constitutional guarantees of equality and freedom of association under Articles 17 and 21(1)(e). They further argue that this arrangement discriminates against other lawyer groups and creates an unconstitutional monopoly.

The suit also seeks an order restraining the GBA from presenting itself as the only constitutionally recognised legal body, describing such claims as misleading and unlawful.

The Attorney-General and the Ghana Bar Association are listed as the 1st and 2nd defendants in the case.

Observers say the outcome could redefine the role of the GBA in Ghana’s legal system and reshape the structure of professional representation for lawyers in the country.