Office Of Special Prosecutor Bill Ready – Attorney General

A draft bill for the establishment of the office of special prosecutor to deal with cases of corruption in the public sector is ready for stakeholders input scheduled for June 26-29, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akufo told journalists in Accra yesterday.

The office of the Special Prosecutor bill, 2017 makes provision forbidding the Attorney General to enter nolle prosqui notice of discontinuation of cases in court.

It also has a provision that makes the tenure of office of the special prosecutor not to coincide with the tenure of office of the appointing government.

The removal of special prosecutor is particularly made cumbersome and a disincentive in the bill. Ms Akufo made this disclosure when the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Sun Baohong, donated five computers, five printers and UPS to the minister in support of the stakeholder’s conference.

The New Patriotic Party during the 2016 electioneering campaign, promised to fight corruption head-on with the establishment of an independent special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute corrupt public officials.

Mrs Akuffo said in the estimation of the government, the EOCO was so overwhelmed with cases that corruption related cases appeared not to be getting the desire attention.

She was of the view that the office of the special prosecutor would be independent to investigate and prosecute corruption related cases in the public sector.

The minister expressed appreciation to the Chinese government for supporting the stakeholder meeting to seek views for incorporation into the draft bill.

Madam Boahong said "corruption is a canker to social development adding that the setting up of a Strong anti-corruption system by both the party and the government had won high praises from the Chinese and the international community.

She said China-Ghana relations were flourishing saying "it is essential to manage and guide the exchange and cooperation between China and Ghana by legal means in order to protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens of both sides, maintain a healthy market order, combat transitional crime and ensure social justice."

Madam Baohong said the Chinese government has always educated citizens and enterprise abroad to abide by the laws an regulations of the host countries, and regulations of the host countries, and to contribute to the local economic and social development.

"We support the new government of Ghana to carry out anti-corruption campaigns and expect to strengthen our cooperation and exchanges of both domestic and international combat against corruption," she added.