Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, has said the government will treat the Ghana Bar Association’s (GBA) resolution on the suspension of the Chief Justice as merely political unless it is backed by sound legal reasoning.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM's Newsnight on Monday, April 28, Dr. Srem-Sai described the GBA’s call for the revocation of the Chief Justice’s suspension as “shocking” but insisted it would be premature to draw firm conclusions without understanding the legal basis for the Association's resolution.

“Every lawyer knows that law is not democracy. Law operates by reason, not by the collection of numbers or popularity. Until we know the legal reasoning behind the GBA's resolution, we will just consider it another political statement,” he said.

Dr. Srem-Sai noted that while the GBA, like any association, can engage in political advocacy, legal matters, particularly involving a sitting Chief Justice, must be handled strictly according to constitutional and legal principles.

“We are waiting to see if the GBA resolution points to any legal breaches in the processes adopted so far. If, for example, they show that the President breached constitutional steps, such as failing to appoint the proper number of committee members, we will consider it seriously,” he noted.

He further indicated that the government expects the GBA to be fully aware of ongoing court cases related to the Chief Justice’s suspension and the specific reliefs being sought. Any attempt by the Association to issue a resolution that undermines the authority of the courts, he warned, would be deeply problematic.

“If their resolution is meant to overreach the court’s authority, that is another serious concern,” he added.

Dr. Srem-Sai, however, maintained that the government remains open to genuine, lawful input from any stakeholder, including the Ghana Bar Association.

“We are open-minded. We are ready to take on board any legitimate and lawful concerns. But if the resolution is purely political, the President has more appropriate advisory bodies like the Council of State to rely on," he said.