GBA raises concerns over arrests of social media commentators

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has raised concerns over the arrest of social media commentators, calling for greater attention to the constitutional rights of suspects and the imposition of reasonable bail conditions.

The GBA President, Mrs Efua Ghartey, made the call at the opening of the Association’s 2026/2027 Annual Conference in Ada.

Mrs Ghartey said the Association, at its maiden fully virtual Mid-year Conference on June 5, 2026, adopted a resolution concerning excessive bail conditions imposed by investigative and prosecutorial authorities.

According to her, such conditions must comply with Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution and should be reasonable, proportionate and consistent with the presumption of innocence.

She also disclosed that there had been a proposal for the establishment of a Human Rights Watch Committee within the Ghana Bar Association to monitor the protection of constitutional and human rights.

Mrs Ghartey said the proposed committee would be particularly relevant in cases involving social commentators, citing the recent arrests of TikTokers.

She said the committee would be able to provide the requisite legal aid to suspects in such cases.

The GBA President’s comments come amid public interest in the arrest and prosecution of individuals over comments made on social media.

She stressed the importance of ensuring that constitutional protections, including the presumption of innocence, are respected in the administration of justice.

Mrs Ghartey further said investigative and prosecutorial authorities must ensure that bail conditions imposed on suspects meet the constitutional requirement of reasonableness and proportionality.

She said the proposed Human Rights Watch Committee would provide an avenue for the Bar to monitor Article 14 and other human rights provisions of the Constitution.

The proposal, she added, would give citizens greater assurance that the legal profession is paying attention to cases where fundamental rights may be at stake.

The GBA President also reiterated the Association’s commitment to holding statutory and governmental institutions to constitutional standards.

“We shall not relent on our efforts to hold statutory and governmental bodies to the constitutional standards of our country for our common good,” she said.

The 2026/2027 GBA Annual Conference is being held under the theme: “150 years of Ghana’s Legal Evolution: Transforming the Profession and Driving its Future with Industry.”