Legal practitioner, Efua Ghartey has been elected as the first female President of the Ghana Bar Association.
She emerged victorious with 1,279 votes while her contender followed closely with 1,060 votes.
The election was held during the Ghana Bar Association Conference at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
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 to lead the association 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.
Expressing her excitement, the GBA President-elect promised to promote the rule of law and protect the rights of lawyers.
“I am humbled and honoured to be the first female President of the Ghana Bar Association, this indeed is something new that the bar for the first time has entrusted leadership to the ladies.
“We shall make you proud. We shall make sure that you never regret this choice. What we ask for moving forward is that not only do you pray for us but also hold our hands.
“I pledge to work tirelessly to promote the interests of lawyers, to protect the rule of law, and to advance the cause of justice in Ghana,” she said.
Ms Ghartey’s election has been hailed as a breakthrough for women in the legal profession in Ghana.
Her victory is seen as a testament to her hard work, dedication, and commitment to the advancement of the legal profession.
In a statement, the outgoing GBA President, Yaw Boafo said that the GBA feels “proud to have Efua Ghartey as its first female President” and looks forward to working with her to achieve the set goals and objectives.
Her inauguration ceremony is scheduled for Monday, November 4, 2024.
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.