GBA refutes claims of snub, confirms Mahama as Guest of Honour for 2025 Conference

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has pushed back against media reports suggesting it deliberately excluded President John Dramani Mahama from its 2025 Annual Conference, describing the allegations as “false and misleading.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Association confirmed that President Mahama had not only been invited but had also formally accepted to attend the gathering in Wa, Upper West Region, where he will serve as Guest of Honour.

The GBA detailed the process, explaining that an informal invitation was first extended in March 2025 during a courtesy call on the president. This was followed by a formal letter dated July 21, which the Presidency acknowledged on July 29. Confirmation of Mahama’s attendance arrived on August 1, clearing any doubts about his participation.

According to the Association, the initial notices announcing the conference were circulated while awaiting responses from invited dignitaries. Once confirmation was received, the GBA updated its notice to reflect that the event would take place under the distinguished patronage of the President of the Republic.

The statement also addressed concerns over the inclusion of the Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales as a special guest, clarifying that this was not a break from tradition. The English Bar Council had participated in the 2022 Annual Conference in Ho, and similar collaborations have been maintained with international legal bodies such as the International Bar Association, the African Bar Association, and counterparts in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, and the United States.

The Association reaffirmed its non-partisan posture, stressing that it has no interest in undermining the dignity of the Presidency.