The task of an AG during the second term of a government is not easy - Godfred Dame

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has highlighted some of the challenges he has faced in his work.

According to him, being an Attorney General during the second term of a government is very difficult.

He stated that the position comes with sometimes being disliked by colleague ministers due to some of the decisions he makes.

The AG said, “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,” he said.

He said this during his speech at the 2024/2025 Annual General Conference in Kumasi on August 9, 2024.

Godfred revealed crucial moments where he had to offer difficult advice to the Minister of Finance on the domestic debt restructuring, as well as to the Minister of Health at crucial times in the history of Ghana.

“I remember the painful advice I gave to the finance minister on the domestic debt restructuring at the difficult time of the nation as well as the Minister of Health, perhaps, at a more difficult time in the history of our nation during the COVID-19 crisis,” he added.

He further stated, “In our peculiar political environment, it also involves pitching yourself as a sworn enemy of your political adversaries through the decisions you make that they may consider as impeaching on their political fortunes, particularly in terms of prosecution and defence of civil actions against the government.”

According to the AG, he remains fearless despite the overwhelming challenges because he loves the law and is working hard help promote development of Ghana through the law.

He said, “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 developing Ghanaian society.

“With courage and strength, I have taken the (sic) and arrows of a critical free media when they are unjustified or wrong. I am strong in my conviction that there is no other institution that has affected the country and has authority and the jurisdiction to affect so many components of justices of this country than the office of the attorney general an Minister of Justice.”

RAD/AE