Former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame has expressed concern about recent judicial decisions he believes could affect public confidence in Ghana’s justice system.
He warned that certain actions by some judicial officers risk creating perceptions of bias, particularly in cases involving members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Dame made the comments at the Leadership and Law Series organised by the Law Students Network on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
He pointed to recent detention and bail rulings involving some NPP members, arguing that such outcomes raise questions about consistency in the application of justice and the independence of the courts.
“Some members of the judiciary have also, sad to say, become willing enablers of these violations with unjustified detentions of opponents of the ruling party,” he stated.
He further argued that denying bail and pursuing what he described as “frivolous prosecutions” against individuals for expressing political opinions could damage the reputation of the judiciary.
“The denial of bail to members of the NPP and frivolous prosecution of a few for expression of views on matters of public interest cast a slur on the integrity and independence of the judiciary,” he added.
Mr Dame also referenced recent arrests linked to the circulation of satirical materials relating to national debates, including issues around LGBTQ discussions, describing the developments as worrying for free expression.
“The most absurd effort to suppress free expression was witnessed in the baseless arrest, prosecution, and denial of bail to some members of the NPP recently for expression of their views… through the circulation of materials in the form of caricature of some members of the John Mahama administration,” he said.
His comments come amid ongoing national conversations about judicial independence, political accountability, and the balance between free expression and the enforcement of the law.
