Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu has criticised the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) over what he described as its silence on comments made by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin against a judge in the ongoing case involving NPP’s Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye DC.

Kwakye Ofosu said the GBA’s lack of response suggested bias within the legal professional body, which he accused of aligning with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The comments follow Afenyo-Markin’s criticism of the continued remand of Abronye DC, in which he raised constitutional concerns about bail and freedom of expression.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the Minority Leader also made remarks directed at the presiding judge in the case, saying: “That Circuit Court 9 judge, I have no respect for him. I pray he summons me for contempt. I will continue to disrespect him until he upholds the law. It’s a shame on the judiciary, he doesn’t talk law,” he said.

Reacting in a Facebook post on Monday, Kwakye Ofosu accused the GBA of selective silence.

“I have long dismissed the Ghana Bar Association as an NPP grouping. If it were not so, the intolerable abuse of this Judge by the Minority Leader would have elicited an immediate, uncompromising response. They have been known to respond quickly to far less offensive commentary by non-NPP members,” he said.

He added that the association’s silence amounted to “duplicity,” alleging inconsistent responses depending on political affiliation.

“Alas, one of their own, an NPP lawyer, has abused a judge, so they have been loudly silent. What insufferable duplicity! See less,” he added.

The Ghana Bar Association has not publicly responded to the remarks.

Abronye DC was remanded for two weeks on 13 May, in connection with investigations into alleged misinformation and offensive public statements. He was first arrested in April and later rearrested as investigations continued.

A bail application challenging his continued detention is set to be heard at the High Court on 20 May, according to the party’s General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday (18 May), Kodua said he had visited Abronye at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), alongside senior party figures, including former Trade and Industry Minister K. T. Hammond, Deputy General Secretary Haruna Mohammed, Central Regional Chairman Dennis Percyval Quaicoe, and the 2024 parliamentary candidate for Agona West, Christopher Arthur.

Kodua said Abronye remained “resolute, courageous and in very high spirits” despite his detention, adding that he had expressed gratitude to party supporters across the country for their solidarity.

He said the NPP regional chairman also sent greetings to members in the Bono Region and urged party supporters to remain united and steadfast.

“His spirit remains unbroken, and his conviction unwavering,” Kodua wrote, quoting Abronye as assuring supporters that he would “definitely be back.”

According to Kodua, a bail application has already been filed at the High Court, with proceedings expected to get the NPP stalwart released.