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“At the Bar Centre of the Ghana Bar Association, for the first time in several years, we will have registered on the Roll of Presidents of GBA a Female President of the Ghana Bar Association and that will be none other than a Methodist and a daughter of the manse, Mrs. Efua Ghartey”.

INTRODUCTION

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) is an association of lawyers called to the Bar to practice law in Ghana. The GBA is therefore made up of both males and females with the current active membership standing at 7664 out of which (4399) representing 57.4% are males and (3265) representing 42.6% being females. The GBA is organised both at the National Level and Regional Levels, with Executives elected by its members at the various levels in accordance with its Constitution. Currently there are 10 regions of practice for purposes of the GBA although Ghana as a country has 16 regions, with the creation of six (6) new regions in 2019. The National Executives of the GBA at the Presidency and Vice Presidency have since its inceptions been dominated by males, although the numbers show that the ratio in terms of percentage is around 57.4%:42.6%. The author, as a Wesleyan, examines the role The Methodist Church Ghana has played in the leadership of the GBA and focuses on the historical feat of The Methodist Church Ghana by producing the first ever Female President of the GBA.

What is The Ghana Bar Association?

On the website of the GBA (https://ghanabar.org/) is found inter alia thus, “The Ghana Bar Association, (GBA) a member of the International Bar Association, is a professional association of lawyers in Ghana, including what used to be called solicitors and barristers but are now called legal practitioners, as well as lawyers. By convention, all lawyers admitted to practice in Ghana became automatic members of the Association.” Originally, the Ghana Bar Association did not exist as a formal institution in the sense in which we know it today. In those far off days there were, of course very few lawyers at the Bar and what could be called a bar association was simply an informal meeting of gentlemen at the Bar which was more a social gathering than anything else. The tradition developed whereby the most senior member of the Bar was designated the leader of the Bar. The Association in its informal existence had no officers and kept no minutes of its meetings. It is thus difficult for any researcher to find out exactly what the activities of the Bar Association were in those days. It was only recently, in fact within the last quarter of the century, that our Bar Association has kept formal minutes of all its meetings and kept all other records maintained by important professional organizations world-wide…” The Bar Association drew its first formal constitution and code of ethics in 1958, and from then on, except for a few occasions when due to political reasons an annual conference has not been possible, the Bar Association had held a conference annually, take important decisions and to elect its officers who hold office for only one year but are eligible for re-election. The Bar Association considers that in this sense it is one of the most democratic institutions in this country and it is not for nothing that its members, from the first Ghanaian barrister, John Mensah Sarbah, onwards have fought for the establishment and maintenance of democracy in this country.” The potency, importance of the Bar Association cannot be overestimated. “So important has been the voice of the Ghana Bar Association that various governments of various political hues have attempted at one time or the other to control the Association, but none has succeeded… The Ghana Bar Association has continued to maintain its independence of all organs of government and has at all-time not failed to oppose governmental measures or measures proposed by the judiciary or the legislature that it considers inimical to the democracy or to the larger interest of the people of this country.”

History of Presidency of the GBA

The GBA has since its inception have leaders to lead the Association. All the Presidents of the GBA since 1958 have been males with no single female succeeding as a President even when an attempt is made. The Presidents of the GBA have been, the likes of Robert Samuel Blay (R.S. Blay), the first President of the GBA from (1957 to 1959) and (1960 to 1962), Archie Casely-Hayford, President from 1959 to 1960, J.B Danquah, (1962 to 1963), Victor Owusu, (acting president from 1963 to 1965 and from 1965 to 1966), William Ofori-Atta (1966 to 1967), Joe Appiah (1967 to 1970), Joe Reindorf, (1970 to 1971), Edward Nathaniel Moore (1971 to 1972), J.B Quashie-Idun,(1972 to 1976), J.F.K. Adadevoh, (1976 to 1979), W.A.N. Adumoah-Bosman, (1979 to 1981), E.D. Kom (1981 to 1982), J.K. Agyemang, (1982 to 1985), Peter Ala Adjetey, (1985 to 1989), Anthony K. Mmieh (1989 to 1992), Nutifafa Kuenyehia (1992 to 1995), Sam Okudzeto (1995 to 1998), Joseph Ebow Quashie, (1998 to 2001), Paul Adu-Gyamfi, (2001 to 2004), S. Kwami Tetteh, Frank Beecham (2009 to 2012), Nene A.O. Amegatcher, (2012 to 2015), Benson Nutsukpui (2015 to 2018), Anthony Forson Jnr. (2018 to 2021), Yaw Acheampong Boafo 2021 to 2024. Making to this list as the first female President of the GBA is Mrs. Efua Ghartey, who assumes office on Monday 4^th November, 2024 after a beautiful Induction ceremony at the Wesley Towers to which the author shall return.

Contribution of The Methodist Church Ghana to the Leadership of the GBA

The Methodist Church Ghana has contributed in no small way to the leadership of the GBA at both the National and Regional levels. It is gratifying to note, that the Vice President of the GBA from 2018 to 2021, Mr. Williams Orleans Oduro is a Methodist, one-time lay Chairman for the Sunyani Diocese of The Methodist Church Ghana, and later became the Lay President of Conference. It is suggested that but for his commitments to the Church, he could have considered contesting for the Presidency of the GBA at the National level after serving his term as Vice President. At the National level, Mr. Joseph Ebow Quarshie was the President of the GBA from 1998 to 2001. The current Secretary of the GBA, Kwaku Baffour Gyau is a Methodist, and in 2024 was elected again without opposition. Mr. Ebenezer Kwesi Aberde Kwaitoo was President of the Western Region GBA from 2009 to 2013 and until 2023, was a Legal Coordinator for the Sekondi Diocese of The Methodist Church Ghana. He also offered himself for the position of Vice President and although made an impressive show, lost to his contender who became the 2^nd female Vice President of the GBA. Mr. Kwame Agyapong Boafo, a former Lay Chairman of the Kumasi Diocese and later Lay President of Conference, served the GBA as Secretary to the Ashanti Regional Bar from 1982 to 1985. Mr. Kwabena Appiagyei Asante-Krobea, a former Lay Chairman of the Kumasi Diocese was one-time Assistant Secretary to the National GBA.

Breaking the chain – the Journey of Efua Ghartey to the GBA Presidency

The Presidency of the GBA has been the domain of males, although the GBA is not a known ‘boys guild’. In the year 2018, one Methodist, Mrs. Efua Ghartey contested for the Presidency of the GBA at its annual conference in Koforidua. In the said Conference, the contestants for the office of the GBA Presidents were in order of seniority at the Bar, the Author’s respected senior in Chambers, Mr. Peter R. Zwennes Jnr., Mrs Efua Ghartey and Mr. Anthony Forson Jnr. After the contest, the most junior of the contestants emerged as the winner with Mrs. Efua Ghartey being the first runner up and Peter R. Zwennes Jnr. following in that order. In 2021, Mrs. Efua Ghartey contested again, this time against Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo, who at the time was the National Secretary, when Mrs. Efua Ghartey was the President of the Greater Accra Regional GBA. In 2021, the GBA at its annual conference in Bolgatanga voted for Mr. Yaw Acheampong Boafo against Mrs. Efua Ghartey with a vote difference of about 65.  This was therefore the second time Mrs. Efua Ghartey had contested and been rejected. This rejection is despite the track record Mrs. Efua Ghartey has garnered and sought to present in her bid to serve.

In her persistent mode, she offered herself again to her colleagues for election as President for the 3^rd time in 2024 at the Conference in Kumasi. This was again a contest between two persons who have served the Greater Accra GBA very well, with Mrs. Efua Ghartey serving for two terms (6 years) and her contender having served the Greater Accra GBA for a term (3) years after the term of Mrs. Efua Ghartey. One could arguably say this was a contest between a ‘mother and son’. At the end of the contest on 11^th September 2024, the results declared by the Electoral Commission of the GBA showed Mrs. Efua Ghartey winning the race by over 1200 votes constituting about 54% of the valid votes casts. It was a joy to behold when the results were declared. At long last, history has been made, Ghana has elected the first Female President of the GBA in the person of Mrs. Efua Ghartey, a Methodist, an old Girl of Wesley Girls’ High School and a daughter of the manse, her father being the respected Wesleyan Clergy who was the President of Conference of The Methodist Church Ghana (1990 to 1997) and Academic, Professor Emeritus Kwesi Dickson. In her speech after the declaration of the election results, she assured all of a “United Bar in Service” which according to the Author is essential at a time when everything in Ghana seems politicised along partisan political lines.

Who is this Mrs. Efua Ghartey

In 1 Samuel 17:55 – 58, “When Saul saw David going out to fight Goliath, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is he? I have no idea, Your Majesty” Abner answered. Then go and find out, Saul ordered. So when David returned to camp after killing Goliath, Abner took him to Saul. David was still carrying Goliath’s head. So Saul asked him, Young man, whose son are you? “I am the son of your servant Jesse from Bethlehem” David answered” One may ask, but who is this Mrs. Efua Ghartey?  Mrs. Efua Ghartey is a lawyer who is over 34 years at the bar, having been called to the Bar in 1991. She worked with the Legal Aid as a Legal Aid Officer, representing the under-privileged in society. She joined the Law Firm, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co. as an associate. In the year 1994, she together with her husband founded the law firm Ghartey & Ghartey. In 2005, she succeeded Hon. Joe Ghartey, and became the Head of the Law Firm when the former became the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Her focus in legal practice is Corporate Law, with emphasis on Joint ventures, corporate restructuring, labour and employment, company law, maritime law and litigation. Mrs. Efua Ghartey has considerable experience in litigation and has appeared before all courts in Ghana including the Supreme Court. She has a certificate in in Basic and Advanced Securities from the Ghana Stock Exchange and a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution awarded by the California State University, Sacramento Centre for African Peace and Conflict Resolution and the University of Ghana Legon, Centre for International Affairs.

Mrs. Efua Ghartey is a member of the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) and has held Executive positions in FIDA (Ghana) from 1992 to 1997. She has also served as member/secretary of a number of committees of the Ghana Bar Association and is a member of the National Executive of the Ghana Bar Association. She is a former President of the Greater Accra Regional Bar Association. She served on various boards, both National and International. Until November 2019. She was the Chairperson of the Global Council of the United Bible Societies, Worldwide, Chairperson of the Council of Bible Society of Ghana and a member of the Business Committee. She is the immediate past Chairperson of World Vision Ghana. In the Methodist Church Ghana, she plays several roles including being a member of the Board of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, a member of the Constitution Review Committee that produced the 2023 Revised edition of the Constitution and Standing Orders of the Methodist Church Ghana, a member of the Connexional Legal Advisory Team and a member of the Law of Polity Committee of the Methodist Church Ghana.

She won’t forgive the author if it is not placed on record that she is an Old Girl of the Wesley Girls’ High School and of course the University of Ghana. She is married to the Honourable Joe Ghartey MP.

Induction Ceremony

As if to claim their own, the induction of the newly elected executives led by Mrs. Efua Ghartey was held on the 4^th of November 2024 at the Wesley Towers, Accra. In attendance were the hierarchy of the Methodist Church Ghana including the Presiding Bishop the Most Rev. Professor Joseph Kwabena Asamoah-Gyedu, who himself by divine coincidence or orchestration was also elected at the Conference of the Methodist Church Ghana in Kumasi in September 2024 barely a week before Mrs. Efua Ghartey’s historic election, the Rt. Rev. William Mpere-Gyekye, other Diocesan Bishops and senior clergy men of the Methodist Church Ghana. Also in attendance were senior lawyers including the President of the Republic of Ghana under whom Mrs. Efua Ghartey worked as a young lawyer. The ceremony was as brief as symbolic. It was evident that the Methodist Church Ghana shares in this glorious event and historic achievement of one of its own, Mrs. Efua Ghartey who will go down in history as the first ever Female President of the Ghana Bar Association.

From the ceremony, one could suggest that Mrs. Efua Ghartey’s victory is one that Church shares in and is proud of, it means therefore that her success is a success and a testament to the Church. The Presiding Bishop was right when he remarked albeit on a lighter note, that according to the oath the executives took, should they break their oath, they will suffer the penalties under the GBA Constitution. But in the case of Mrs. Efua Ghartey, should she would also be liable to the penalties enshrined in the Constitution of the Methodist Church Ghana. She cannot afford to fail to deliver. She has a charge to keep and obviously a God to glorify and a Church to make proud.

Lessons from Mrs. Efua Ghartey’s Election.

As people of faith and people called Methodists, the author believes her election teaches a few lessons worth sharing.

1. God’s time is the best – Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that, “He has set the right time for everything. He has given us a desire to know the future, but never gives us satisfaction of fully understanding what he does”. We as humans have limitations in our thoughts, sometimes we have our own plans but God has a bigger and better plan for His children. In fact, the Bible says in Isaiah 55:8-9 that, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” God knows the way He taketh, and we must walk with him, MHB 528 stanza 2. Mrs. Efua Ghartey started pursuing the office of the President of the GBA about 6 years ago in 2018 and was unsuccessful in the two earlier attempts. The author believes and she would acknowledge that this is indeed the best time to assume the position she has been contesting since 2018. It was actually gratifying to see her exchanging pleasantries with His Royal Majesty the Otumfour Asantehene, at the Akwasidae the Sunday after her election, an opportunity her predecessor Presidents in 2018 and 2021 did not have.

• Persistence – There is value in persisting as Christians. There is a secular saying that if at first you don’t succeed, try again. The election of Mrs. Efua Ghartey and the euphoria that surrounded the declaration of results shows that there is no point in giving up. Paul tells us to forget about the past and press on towards the goal for the victorious crown. There is a crown to be attained and one would not obtain it if one gives up easily.

• When God speaks He has spoken. On the campaign grounds before and during conference, her contender seemed popular on the ground, with the masses following him. On a one to one interaction, people will confide in you that it is Efua’s time, a position the Author actually shared. One of her key Campaign strategists and a very prayerful lady once mentioned to the author, that “Efua would Win, God has spoken”. MHB 511 stanza 1 ends with the phrase, “The word He has spoken shall surely prevail” the conviction with which she said it was enough to dismiss any doubt or unbelief in one’s mind with the Hymn begone Unbelief.

• All things are possible through God. Charles Wesley was absolutely right when he wrote in MHB 548, “All things are possible to him That can in Jesu’s name believe. Lord I no more Thy truth blaspheme, Thy truth I lovingly receive, I can, I do believe in Thee, All things are possible to me.” Many were those who thought, once no female had ascended to the seat of the Presidency of the GBA, it was not possible for Mrs. Efua Ghartey to be the first. But as the scriptures says, in Matthew 19:26, with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. The lesson here is that the fact that something has not been done before does not in any way suggests that it cannot be done. There is the first time for everything. It was the respected Lord Denning who said, “What is the argument on the other side? Only this, that no case has been found in which it has been done before. That argument does not appeal to me in the least. If we never do anything which has not been done before, we shall never get anywhere……” It is an encouragement to our mothers, sisters, wives and our females take bold steps to enter into territories to conquer to make a mark and make an impact.

Conclusion

The election of Mrs. Efua Ghartey is a huge statement, especially regarding affirmative action and gender equity. It shows that once you put your mind to something, God can make it materialise. Her election is historic and brings pride to The Methodist Church Ghana. She requires the prayers of all Methodists and support of all Methodist lawyers to succeed in her tenure. Her successes bring pride and honour to the Methodist Church Ghana. May God lead her as she leads the GBA for the next three (3) years, may she not full direction need, nor miss her providential way. May she be far from danger as far from fear, while love almighty love is near.