Former AG Godfred Dame demands retraction from Kwakye Ofosu over galamsey claims

Godfred Dame Demands Apology from Felix Kwakye Ofosu Over Alleged Defamatory Claims

Former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has formally demanded a retraction and apology from the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, over what he describes as “false, malicious and defamatory” statements made against him.

In a letter dated March 12, 2026, Mr Dame accused Mr Kwakye Ofosu of making unsubstantiated allegations during an appearance on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme on October 10, 2025.

According to Mr Dame, the minister alleged that he had deliberately ignored a police report implicating Akonta Mining Company Limited in illegal mining activities. The company is owned by Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, who is currently standing trial over alleged mining infractions.

Rejecting the claims, Mr Dame insisted that no such report was ever presented to him during his tenure as Attorney-General from 2021 to 2025.

He cited a response to a Right to Information (RTI) request from the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, which confirmed that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) did not submit any docket on Akonta Mining to the Attorney-General’s office between 2022 and 2024. The statement further clarified that the only related docket was received on September 15, 2025—after he had left office.

Mr Dame described the allegations as “sinister, reckless and malicious,” arguing that they were intended to tarnish his reputation and wrongly portray him as complicit in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

He also objected to additional comments made by Mr Kwakye Ofosu suggesting that he was “not fit for the job” and had been complicit through inaction, stating that such remarks go beyond acceptable public criticism and amount to defamation.

The former Attorney-General emphasized that the claims had been widely circulated across various media platforms, thereby amplifying their impact on his reputation. He further highlighted his over 20 years of legal experience and his role in representing Ghana at international forums, including the United Nations and ECOWAS, as part of his defence against the allegations.

As part of his demands, Mr Dame has given Mr Kwakye Ofosu seven days to issue a full retraction and apology and to remove all related publications from online platforms. He indicated that failure to comply could lead to legal action.

The development adds a new dimension to ongoing political debates over accountability in the fight against illegal mining in Ghana, an issue that continues to dominate national discourse.