The newly elected President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Efua Ghartey, has vowed to lead the Association towards a united and progressive future.
Speaking after her historic election in Kumasi on Wednesday, Ghartey pledged to resolve divisions and end factions within the GBA, emphasising the importance of unity.
She stressed that the Association’s success depends on the collective effort of all members and called for a shared commitment to advancing the GBA’s goals.
“The Bar has spoken and from this day forward it is a united Bar in service. No divisions, no factions. It is over. It is time that we put shoulders to the plough and work to deliver what we believe should be the bar in progress.”
“This indeed is something new, something novel that the bar for the first time has entrusted leadership to the ladies and I know that with God’s help, we shall make you proud.
“We shall serve you with all our ability and we shall make sure that you will never regret this choice,” she stated.
Mrs Ghartey’s election is being hailed as a transformative moment for the GBA, as it ushers in new leadership that is expected to bring fresh perspectives to the legal profession in Ghana.
She polled 1,278 votes to beat her closest contender Agbesi Dzakpasu who polled 1060.
Mrs Ghartey, a seasoned lawyer of over 30 years’ standing at the Bar and with an extensive track record of service to the GBA, was running for national president for the third time.
Her two previous attempts ended in a narrow loss to Tony Forson, the immediate past president of the GBA, and Yaw Boafo, the current national president, by thin margins of 67 and 65 votes, respectively.
Undeterred by these setbacks, Mrs Ghartey who is also the wife of former Attorney General, Joe Ghartey, spent the past six years consistently voicing her intention to lead the GBA.
In the Vice Presidential race, Victoria Barth polled 1624 of the total votes to win the race defeating Ebenezer Kwaitoo who polled 495 votes.
Victoria Barth is an accomplished legal professional, well known for her stellar academic career at the Ghana School of Law, where she has mentored and taught many young lawyers.