President Akufo-Addo being assisted by the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame to cut the tape to officially open the Law House in Accra. With them are Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo and other government officials
President Nana Akufo-Addo yesterday commissioned the Law House, a newly built 10-storey office complex that will house State Attorneys from the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice.
The Law House project, which began in 2001, spans the tenures of four presidents: John Kufuor, Professor Atta Mills, John Dramani Mahama, and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
It was originally scheduled to be completed in May 2004, but the contract was terminated and re-awarded in January 2023.
By the time Godfred Yeboah Dame took over as Attorney General and Minister for Justice, 36% of the work had been completed.
The Minister’s personal dedication to completing the project provided it a much-needed lifeline.
Due Process
Speaking at the ceremony to commission the project, President Nana Akufo-Addo stated that he would not sacrifice due process and rules of natural justice in the pursuit of anti-corruption, no matter the opprobrium this position incurs for him.
According to him, the rule of law is the best protection of individual liberty, “in good times and in bad times”, saying that no matter how much disdain the NDC flagbearer, ex-President John Dramani Mahama, heaps on him, he will not bend.
“I am sure we are all aware of the statement by the former President, the perennial NDC presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, stigmatising me as a clearing agent because for him, mere allegations without more, is enough to merit condemnation of an accused public official, especially one in my administration.
“Let me state it again for the record, I will not set aside due process and the rules of natural justice on the altar of the fight against corruption no matter how much opprobrium this position incurs for me,” the President stressed.
He also reiterated his government’s commitment to ensure that law and order will prevail in the country before, during and after the December 2024 elections.
“We will not allow peace, security, and stability of the nation that has made Ghana a beacon of democracy on the African continent to be compromised on the altar of the ambitions of any political party or presidential candidate. It will not happen,” President Akufo-Addo intimated.
On the office complex, the President said the completion of the “Law House” is the testament of the NPP government’s commitment to addressing the age-old office accommodation problem that has plagued the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice.
“The importance of this building goes beyond its physical. It symbolizes our strong dedication to upholding the tenets of the rule of law which is the bedrock of any thriving democracy,” he pinned.
The President expressed gratitude to the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, his two deputies, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah and Diana Asonaba Dapaah, and the entire Justice Ministry leadership for their commitment to reviving and completing what had become yet another abandoned government project.
“I must at the onset, pay glowing tribute to the work undertaken by the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, in bringing us to this day. We assumed office as Attorney General in 2021, after 4 years as Deputy Attorney General, the completion stages of the “Law House” project was, as we have been told, at 36%,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“His commitment together with my support was instrumental in reviving and bringing the project to completion. His efforts ensured that this initiative which could have easily ended up as an abandoned government project was implemented to become the impressive structure that we are celebrating. He has done a yeoman’s job and I say a hearty “Ayekoo” to him” the President added.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent