Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has issued a strong public response to legal practitioner Thaddeus Sory. He accuses Sory of launching a long-standing campaign of personal attacks and professional undermining.
Dame shared his statement on Facebook, defending his performance as Attorney General. He also addressed claims made by Sory in a recent public write-up.
Now back in private practice following the NDC’s rise to power in January 2025, Dame called Sory’s frequent criticism “obsessive” and “bewildering.” He argued that such conduct falls short of the standards expected of experienced lawyers.
“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.
He specifically rejected the claim that he ever said he “never lost a case.” He labeled that statement false and misleading. According to Dame, during Bar Conferences in 2023 and 2024, he openly discussed high-profile legal losses. He used them as proof of Ghana’s judicial independence.
“I proudly exhibited some of my losses,” he said, referring to cases like Ghana Centre for Democratic Development v Attorney-General, Appiagyei Atuah v Attorney-General, and Ezuame Mannan v Attorney-General and the Speaker of Parliament.
Dame also criticized the current NDC Attorney-General. He accused him of blocking judicial review of a Court of Appeal decision in the Republic v Cassiel Ato Forson & 2 Others case. This, Dame claimed, was done by withdrawing a Supreme Court notice of appeal.
On a personal note, Dame recalled a past legal battle with Sory. He stated he had defeated him in both the High Court and Court of Appeal in a case dating from 2007 to 2013.
“Was I the Attorney-General in those years?” he asked, challenging the idea that his legal skills only emerged with his appointment.
Dame also highlighted his success in international arbitration. Under his leadership, Ghana won all international cases handled by his team without foreign counsel. One of the victories included a $2.2 million award in 2024.
He went on to question the role of Sory and Tsatsu Tsikata, both of whom have represented top NDC figures. Dame alleged they are trying to remove Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office.
“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, I cannot fault you,” Dame stated.
While noting that lawyers are obliged to defend their clients, he insisted the same rule applied when he was in office.
He ended by saying he would not engage with Sory again. “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.”
Dame concluded with a jab: “As they say, ‘when Godfred Dame coughs, the whole NDC catches a cold.’”
