GBA Refutes Claims Over President Mahama’s Invitation to 2025 Annual Conference

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has dismissed reports suggesting that President John Dramani Mahama was not invited to its upcoming 2025 Annual Conference, describing the claims as false, misleading and a misconception of facts.

In a statement issued by the Association, the GBA clarified that President Mahama has, in fact, been duly invited as the Guest of Honour for the conference scheduled to take place in Wa, Upper West Region. According to the GBA, the President has also formally accepted the invitation.

The Association explained that its Bar Council extended an informal invitation to the President as far back as March 2025, followed by a formal letter dated 21st July 2025, which was acknowledged by the Presidency on 29th July 2025. An official acceptance letter from the Presidency, dated 1st August 2025, confirmed the President’s participation.

The GBA attributed the confusion to its long-standing practice of issuing initial conference notices before receiving responses from invited dignitaries. This, it said, allows the Association to publicize its events early while awaiting confirmations. A subsequent notice, published on 8th August 2025, explicitly listed President Mahama as the distinguished Guest of Honour.

The Association further noted that the Bar Council of England and Wales has also been invited to participate in this year’s conference, stressing that this is not unusual. It recalled that the same body was present at the 2022 Annual Conference in Ho, and that the GBA continues to maintain collaborative ties with other professional associations such as the African Bar Association, Nigerian Bar Association, Sierra Leonean Bar Association, Law Society of Kenya, and the American Bar Association.

Reaffirming its non-partisan stance, the GBA insisted that it would never act to undermine the authority and dignity of the President’s office, emphasizing that its leadership remains committed to the Constitution of Ghana and the Association’s Constitution.