Hot SourceThe General Legal Council (GLC) has received a formal petition calling for disciplinary action against former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, over allegations of professional misconduct.
The complaint, lodged by Ghanaian citizen Daniel Kwame Ofosu-Appiah, arises from the ongoing criminal trial involving Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, businessman Richard Jakpa, and others. Mr Ofosu-Appiah is urging the GLC’s Disciplinary Committee to investigate what he describes as grave ethical breaches by Mr Dame, citing provisions of the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32).
In a detailed petition dated 22 May 2025, Mr Ofosu-Appiah alleges that Mr Dame sought to improperly influence Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the trial, in a manner that compromised the integrity and fairness of the judicial process.
At the heart of the complaint is an audio recording, which has already been admitted into evidence in the criminal proceedings. The recording captures a private conversation between Mr Dame and Mr Jakpa, in which the former Attorney-General is allegedly heard attempting to persuade Mr Jakpa to alter aspects of his testimony.
According to the petitioner, this conduct amounts to a serious breach of prosecutorial impartiality and violates the constitutional right to a fair trial under Article 19(2) of the 1992 Constitution.
The complaint references a ruling delivered on 13 June 2024 by Her Ladyship Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, who admitted the audio recording into evidence.
Additionally, WhatsApp messages between Mr Dame and Mr Jakpa—allegedly including requests for sensitive documents—were also accepted as exhibits. Mr Jakpa is said to have testified under oath that these exchanges occurred without the knowledge or consent of his legal counsel.
Mr Ofosu-Appiah contends that Mr Dame’s conduct constitutes professional misconduct under several provisions of the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 2020 (L.I. 2423), specifically: Rule 1(c): Failure to act with honesty, integrity and professionalism;
Rule 8(1): Conduct involving deceit or misrepresentation;
Rule 13(1)(a) & (b): Direct communication with a represented party;
Rule 54: Attempt to improperly influence a witness;
Rule 61: Conduct likely to bring the legal profession into disrepute;
Rule 76(2)(a): Compromise of the administration of justice;
Rule 89(a): General provision covering professional misconduct.
He also cites Rule 9(4) of the earlier 1969 Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules (L.I. 613), underscoring the long-standing duty of fairness required in prosecutorial roles.
Submitting the petition as a matter of public interest, Mr Ofosu-Appiah invoked Article 41(b) of the Constitution, which enjoins every citizen to uphold and defend the Constitution and the law.
“This responsibility includes taking steps to ensure accountability in public office,” he stated.
He further urged the GLC to impose appropriate sanctions as outlined under Section 16 of the Legal Profession Act, including reprimand, suspension, or even removal from the roll of lawyers.
“The actions of Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, as confirmed by the judicial admission of evidence, have undermined public confidence in the legal profession and in our system of justice,” Mr Ofosu-Appiah said.
“This matter deserves urgent and thorough investigation.”
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