Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has been in the news lately regarding his supposed role in an ongoing case involving the purchase of some ambulances for Ghana.
Today, the minister turns 45 and on reflecting on all the news that has surrounded his office in the past weeks, GhanaWeb brings to its readers a profile of the man who is the country’s youngest ever AG.
Born on June 5, 1979, Dame has crafted an impressive career marked by notable achievements and high-profile positions.
Godfred Yeboah Dame began his academic journey at Adisadel College, where he obtained his GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Certificates between 1989 and 1996.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) in 2001 and subsequently earned his professional law qualification from the Ghana School of Law in 2003. Upon being called to the Bar in October 2003, Dame commenced his professional law practice with Messrs.
Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co., a prominent Ghanaian law firm specializing in various aspects of civil litigation.
Dame's contributions to media and human rights, the rule of law, and civil liberties earned him the Open Society Initiative Fellowship in 2006.
This accolade led him to the University of Oxford’s Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, where he pursued the Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy (PCMLP).
In 2013, Dame played a crucial role in reviewing the 2013 Election Petition Verdict alongside three former Attorneys-General.
This involvement was part of a broader effort to develop strategies to avoid future electoral disputes.
His expertise was further recognized in 2016 when he joined the NPP Manifesto Committee on Governance to draft policies for the Legal and Governance Sector.
From 2011 to 2016, Dame contributed to the academic development of future legal professionals as part of the teaching faculty for Company Law and Practice at the Ghana School of Law.
In January 2017, he was appointed as a teacher in Advocacy and Legal Ethics at the same institution.
However, his teaching commitment was cut short due to his appointment as Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy Minister for Justice in President Akufo-Addo’s first term.
Throughout his career, Dame has been an active member of the Ghana Bar Association, serving on various committees such as the Pupilage and Juniors Committee, which focuses on maintaining standards among junior practitioners.
He was also part of the Ghana Bar Association’s legal team from 2014.
Dame’s influence extends beyond the legal field into sports administration. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association from 2009 to 2017 and chaired the Greater-Accra Regional Football Association’s Disciplinary Committee from 2008 to 2009.
Additionally, he was a member of the Ghana Football Association Elections Committee from 2011 to 2017.
Since his appointment as Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy Minister for Justice in 2017, Dame has distinguished himself in defending the Government in high-profile lawsuits and international arbitration cases.
His efforts have transformed the Attorney-General’s Office into a formidable force in litigation. Notably, he led the Government’s efforts to recover funds from businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome, terminated three mining leases granted to Exton Cubic Company Limited, and challenged the constitutionality of the appointment of Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor.
Dame’s dedication to public service is evident through his participation in various boards, including the Legal Service Board, the Ministerial Advisory Board of the Ministry of Justice, the Board of the University of Ghana Medical Centre, and the Board of the Public Procurement Authority.
A devout Christian, Godfred Yeboah Dame is married to Dr. Joycelyn Assimeng Dame, and they have two children.
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