Godfred Dame ‘replies’ Thaddeus Sory over ‘personal attacks’

Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has issued a sharp public rebuttal to legal practitioner Thaddeus Sory, accusing him of conducting a prolonged campaign of personal attacks and professional disparagement.

Dame’s response, published on his official Facebook page, defends what he says is his record in office as Attorney General, and addresses allegations he says Mr. Sory made in a recent public write-up.

Mr Dame, now in private practice following the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) assumption of power in January 2025, described what he says is Mr Sory’s continuous commentary on his professional conduct as “obsessive” and “bewildering,” stating that it contravenes the standards expected of lawyers of standing at the Bar.

“Your predilection to comment on the slightest thing I do or say is not lost on the public. I live in your mind rent free,” Dame wrote.

Central to Mr Dame’s response was a defence of his track record as Attorney-General, particularly against what he says is Sory’s claim that he (Dame) boasted of “never losing a case.”

Dame dismissed the assertion as a fabrication aimed at discrediting his service and misinforming the public.

He pointed to remarks made during Bar Conferences in September 2023 and September 2024, where he openly discussed high-profile legal defeats during his tenure as a symbol of judicial independence in Ghana.

“I proudly exhibited some of my losses,” Dame stated, citing rulings in matters such as the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development v Attorney-General, Appiagyei Atuah v Attorney-General, and Ezuame Mannan v Attorney-General and the Speaker of Parliament.

He further accused the current Attorney-General, under the NDC administration, of preventing judicial scrutiny of a controversial Court of Appeal ruling in the Republic v Cassiel Ato Forson & 2 Others case by withdrawing a Supreme Court notice of appeal.

In a personal retort, Mr Dame recounted past litigation involving Mr Sory, asserting that he had previously defeated him both at the High Court and Court of Appeal over a case dating back to 2007–2013, when neither held public office.

“Was I the Attorney-General in those years?” he asked rhetorically, responding to what he says is Sory’s query about his supposed sudden legal competence upon appointment.

He also defended his record in international arbitration, pointing out that under his leadership, Ghana won all international cases led by his team without the use of foreign counsel, culminating in a significant 2024 award of US$2.2 million in Ghana’s favour.

Mr Dame challenged what he described as the “incongruous” role of Mr Sory and fellow lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata—both of whom have represented high-profile National Democratic Congress (NDC) figures, including the Speaker of Parliament and President John Mahama—alleging that they are spearheading efforts to undermine Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

“If you do not find it incongruous that the lawyers of the heads of two arms of government have teamed up to remove the lady Chief Justice of the Republic from office, I cannot fault you,” Dame said.

While affirming that lawyers are bound to represent clients who retain them, he asserted that the same principle applied to him during his time in office.

Mr Dame declared his intent to avoid future engagement with Mr Sory, stating:

“This, I hope, will be my only and ever response to you… However, knowing your obsession with me, I am sure it will draw more abuse from you,” ending with the parting shot:

“As they say, ‘when Godfred Dame coughs, the whole NDC catches a cold.’”

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.