Minority slams Nana Addo over passage of “Office of Special Prosecutor” bill

The Minority in Parliament has slammed President Nana Akuffo Addo for assenting to Office of Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) bill, saying he is only passing the bill to prosecute members of the past National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.

According to them, the only way the Minority will have trust in the Office is when it starts investigating and prosecuting the current government officials who have been recently involved in corrupt practices.

Prez Nana Addo, then-presidential candidate for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2016 general elections, promised to set up Independent Prosecutor to deal with corruption which has been a canker in the country.

Prez Nana Akuffo Addo, in fulfillment of his promise, gave a Presidential Assent to five Bills, including that which establishes the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

That completes the legal requirement for the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor following its passage by Parliament on November 14.

The specialized agency will investigate acts of corruption involving public officers, politically exposed persons, and persons in the private sector involved in the commission of corruption.

Speaking in an interview on Otec fm’s political talk show ‘Dwabrem’ hosted by Agya Owusu Ansah, the Deputy Minority Chief whip in Parliament Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim said coming into force the Office is an indication that the Special Prosecutor has been set up to specially prosecute appointees of former president Mahama administration, as the president will appoint his favorite as the Prosecutor.

“The sitting government is more corrupt than the previous administration so the Special Prosecutor should start prosecuting the Finance Minister Hon. Ken Ofori Atta, who has been cited in a corruption deal in the 2.5 million Bond and the Minister for Special Development Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson for financial malfeasance. If they are able to do this, then I will believe that that special office is there to prosecute all,” he said.

Hon. Ahmed, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Banda constituency in the Brong Ahafo region noted that the passage of Right to Information bill is more critical in the quest to fight corruption than the OSP but the government opted for the OSP for the fear of exposing corrupt officials in his government.

Source: otecfmghana.com/Jacob Agyenim Boateng