The Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has acknowledged the challenges in his line of duty.
Speaking at the 2024/2025 Annual Ghana Bar Association Conference on Monday, September 9, 2024, at Kumasi, he highlighted the peculiar difficulties that plague the A-G, particularly in the second term of the government.
He emphasized instances such as the Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP), where he made himself unpopular to reign in colleague ministers and uphold the law.
“The task of being an Attorney General in the second term of a government is not an easy one. It involves coming in at a time when the government has implemented a set of policies in its first term and made some tough decisions that may not be popular with the people.
“As the Attorney General, it involves making yourself unpopular by telling your colleague ministers that they cannot pursue certain legislations and policies which although in the national interest, may be compatible with the law. I remember the painful opinion I gave to the Minister for Finance on the domestic debt restructuring at a difficult time for the nation and the advice I gave to the Minister for Health during the COVID-19 crisis,” he said.
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He also cited numerous criticisms from the media and political adversaries “even when they are unjustified or wrong.”
Mr Dame added that he has, however, braved the challenges of the office and remained undaunted due to his love for law.
Touting his achievements since he took office in 2021, he said, “I could not be prouder of our record of achievement over the last three and a half years.”
He further defended the role of prosecution in ensuring justice in Ghana, stating that legal action is not persecution but a necessary measure to uphold the law and maintain peace.