Tsatsu�s Comments On SC Judge: Pratt Descends Heavily on GBA

Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Junior has descended heavily on the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) for what he describes as double standard the move to chastise lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata for making his observations in the 2012 election petition known. Mr. Tsikata is reported to have said on TV3�s Hot Issues, that he was not surprised by Justice Annin Yeboah�s persistent and consistent opposition to the respondents case because the former was appointed to the Supreme Court by ex-president John Agyekum Kufuor. The GBA subsequently issued a statement condemning his comments saying: �the GBA reminds all lawyers especially persons who were instructed in the petition before the Supreme Court to remember that it amounts to misconduct to grant an interview to the media in a matter in which such person is instructed as counsel.� It warned: �The Ghana Bar Association condemns in no uncertain terms the unwarranted attacks on the Supreme Court Judges individually and collectively and wishes to remind Ghanaians that such conduct amounts to scandalizing a Court and carries with it serious penalties including the loss of one�s freedom.� But speaking on Radio Gold�s current affairs programme, Alhaji and Alhaji with Alhassan Suhuyini Saturday, Mr. Pratt, who doubles as the host of TV3�s Hot Issues disagrees with the GBA saying: �the GBA has issued a statement condemning Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata�and I feel extremely sad about that situation because the GBA has done itself no good by the issuance of that statement�. The Managing Editor condemned the rate at which GBA which is meant to be the upholder and defender of justice, has abandoned its mandate and entered partisan politics. �Not too long ago, a member of the GBA went to the extent of suggesting that judges who did not rule in favour of the petitioners risk being killed. He actually suggested wrongly that judges sitting on the case could be killed. The GBA was absolutely silent. Now somebody tell me the difference�whether indeed that was not graver than the statement attributed with Tsatsu Tsikata. What is good for the goose is good for the gander�, he bewailed. He is imploring the GBA to be fair and constructive in criticizing its members.