Africa needs an effective justice system to tackle corporate accountability and human rights – AG Dame

Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Dame says in order for African states to ensure corporate accountability and human rights, the continent needs an effective justice system alongside structures that would deter corruption. 

“Speaking as an Attorney-General an effective justice system which will take care of violations of human rights. So we have a justice system that clearly will ensure that all elements to the rule of law will be protected and that whenever violations occur, they are punished. I think when these two major structures are put in place then we’ll be on the road to achieving corporate accountability in Africa,” Mr. Dame said as part of a panel at the 2023 Concordia Annual Summit in New York – a global affairs forum discussing pressing challenges and solutions to world issues. 

Additionally, Mr. Dame noted that Ghana is taking steps towards that end in trying to pass the Conduct of Public Officers Bill, a yet-to-be-passed law currently under Cabinet scrutiny.

“The Conduct of Public Officers Bill is very important because it sets in place a whole gamut of regulations which affects the way public officers conduct their affairs,” the AG said.

The draft Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2022 proposes, among others, the removal of the unconstitutional extension of time given to public officers to declare assets and liabilities.

The bill's purpose is to give effect to Chapter 24, articles 284 to 288 of the 1992 Constitution by providing for the conduct of public officers in the performance of functions, as well as domesticate the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.