Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has opened up about the considerable challenges he has faced since assuming office.
Speaking at the 2024/2025 Annual General Conference of the Ghana Bar Association, Dame highlighted the complexities of taking on the role of Attorney-General during a government’s second term.
Dame explained that serving in the second term often means dealing with the repercussions of policies implemented during the first term, some of which may not have been well-received by the public. This, he noted, presents unique challenges that require careful navigation and sometimes difficult decisions.
He shared with the conference attendees that the challenges during his tenure have often been daunting, particularly when offering legal counsel to fellow ministers. He recalled providing crucial advice during contentious periods, such as the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme and the COVID-19 pandemic, where he had to guide the Finance Minister and the Health Minister, respectively, through complex legal and policy issues.
“The task of being an Attorney-General in the second term of a government is not an easy one,” Dame remarked. “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.”
He continued, “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 not be compatible with the law. I remember the painful advice I gave to the Finance Minister on the Domestic Debt Restructuring during a difficult time for the nation, as well as the Health Minister, perhaps, at an even more challenging time in our nation’s history.”
Despite the difficulties, Dame emphasized that he has remained committed to his role, leveraging the law as a tool for national development. “However, I have braved the challenges of the office and remained undaunted because I love the law and I love utilising the law as an instrument for the development of the Ghanaian society,” he concluded.
