Minority in Parliament urges thorough processes before passage of Special Prosecutor Bill

The Special Prosecutor Bill has been read a second time in parliament. 

Reading the basis of the bill, the  Attorney General and Minister of Justice , Gloria Akuffo said it insulates the office from political interference in the prosecution of corruption related offences in accordance with the law.  

She said the bill spells out the mandate of the prosecutor to investigate, prosecute and recover proceeds from corruption offences when they are established. 

Madam Akuffo said the passage of the bill will restore confidence in the justice delivery system. 

Presenting its report, the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ben Abdallah Banda said subject to further amendments from the entire house, the bill will complement efforts by allied anti-corruption agencies. 

He said the office of the special prosecutor stands to reduce the work load on existing agencies. 

MP for Tamale Central, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini drew the house's attention to the fact that the bill will have to ensure the operational, financial and structural independence of the Attorney General.

He said despite this, the prosecutor will be exercising powers conferred on him or her by the Attorney General.  

The Majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was of the opinion that officials of anti-corruption bodies can never be over incentivised so it is imperative that checks and balances are put in place to ensure corruption is nipped in the bud. 

The Minority Leader Haruna Idrissu said they are all for the bill but cautioned the house not to go against provisions in the constitution in the processes leading to its establishment. 

He said there is the need to properly define bribery in the bill saying in its current state, bribery is not exhaustively tackled.   

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