By Prince Ahenkorah
The Ghana Law Society (GLS) has demanded that Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin immediately retract recent comments about the judiciary and issue an unqualified apology. Failure to do so, the Society warned, will trigger disciplinary proceedings before the General Legal Council (GLC).
In a statement dated 20 April 2026, the GLS said it took “grave exception” to public and social media remarks by Afenyo‑Markin, a trained lawyer. The Society singled out his description of a sitting judge as “shameful” and other comments that it said could be read as veiled threats about future political consequences for judicial officers.
Threat to judicial independence. The GLS argued that such statements risk undermining public confidence in the courts and eroding respect for a central pillar of Ghana’s constitutional democracy. “These statements are not only inappropriate but pose a significant risk to the integrity and independence of the justice system,” the Society said.
Professional obligations. As a member of the legal profession, Afenyo‑Markin is bound by the Legal Profession Act and the professional code of conduct. These rules require lawyers to uphold the dignity of the courts and maintain public confidence in the justice system. The GLS noted that his position as Minority Leader “further heightens his responsibility”.
Distinction drawn. The Society acknowledged that judicial decisions are open to legitimate criticism. But it drew a clear line: “When criticism crosses into intimidation or political signalling, it ceases to be constructive and instead becomes corrosive.”
What happens next. The GLS has given Afenyo‑Markin an opportunity to retract and apologise. If he does not, it will ask the General Legal Council the statutory regulator of legal practitioners to hold him accountable. The Society warned that silence in the face of such conduct would “risk normalising behaviour that is fundamentally at odds with the ethical obligations of lawyers and public officials alike”.
Wider context. The standoff renews a familiar Ghanaian debate: how to balance political speech with respect for judicial independence. The GLS insists that the judiciary must operate without fear of reprisal, “whether immediate or future”. For now, the ball is in Afenyo‑Markin’s court.