Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Dame, has reflected on his tenure since assuming office in 2021, emphasizing the challenges of the role including clashing with fellow government officials to uphold the law.
He shared these insights during the Annual Ghana Bar Association Conference in Kumasi, under the theme, “Peaceful, Fair, and Transparent Elections: The Key to Sustainable Democracy.”
Dame highlighted that serving as Attorney-General during the second term of a government comes with unique difficulties. According to him, the role involves dealing with the aftermath of tough policy decisions made in the first term, many of which may be unpopular with the public.
As a result, he has often had to make himself unpopular by advising Ministers against pursuing certain legislation and policies, even if they were in the national interest, when they conflicted with the law.
He recounted particularly challenging moments, such as his legal advice to the Minister of Finance regarding domestic debt restructuring and his guidance to the Minister of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, both at critical junctures in Ghana’s history.
“I remember the painful opinion I gave to the Minister for Finance on the domestic debt restructuring at a difficult time for the nation,” Dame said, underscoring the weight of the decisions he has had to make.
In Ghana’s political climate, Mr Dame noted that his legal decisions often cast him as a “sworn enemy” to political adversaries, particularly in cases related to prosecutions or civil actions involving the government. Despite this, he remains resolute in his dedication to the law and its role in developing Ghanaian society.
“With courage and strength, I have taken the slings and arrows of a critical free media, even when they are unjustified or wrong,” he remarked. “I am strong in my conviction that there is no other institution that has affected, and has the authority and the jurisdiction to affect so many components of justice in this country, than the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice.”
Reflecting on his achievements, Dame expressed pride in what he and his team have accomplished since 2021. “Whatever I have done since 2021, I have done it in the best interests of Ghana, and state attorneys and staff at the Law Office. I could not be prouder of our record of achievement over the last three and a half years.”
The Attorney-General closed his remarks by reaffirming his commitment to upholding the law, even when it means stepping on the toes of those in power, and promised to continue delivering on his mandate in the service of Ghana.