Era of unwarranted, dubious judgement debts against the State over, says Godfred Dame

Former Deputy Attorney General outlines bold new vision for governance

State to no longer be unduly burdened by frivolous lawsuits

The era of unwarranted and dubious judgment debts against the State is over, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame has declared.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, Mr. Dame outlined a bold new vision for governance, anchored on the principles of transparency, accountability, and integrity.

He stated that the State, under the visionary leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will no longer be unduly burdened by frivolous lawsuits aimed at milking the public purse.

“The era of forum shopping, where people move from one court to another, hoping to get a favorable judgment, is over,” Mr. Dame asserted.

He assured that the State will vigorously defend itself against any frivolous or ill-motivated lawsuits, adding that the days of consent judgments, where the State colluded with plaintiffs to inflict financial loss on the public, are over.

Mr. Dame also announced that the State will take steps to recover all monies wrongfully paid as judgment debts, emphasizing that those who have engaged in fraudulent activities will be held accountable.

He further indicated that the State will strengthen its legal team and enhance its capacity to effectively handle cases in court, while also exploring alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to save cost and time.

Mr. Dame’s declaration has been widely welcomed by legal experts and civil society organizations, who have long decried the increasing incidence of judgment debts against the State.

They believe that the new measures announced by the Attorney General will help to restore confidence in the justice system and protect the public purse from further abuse.