Press Release

REJOINDER TO DECEPTION ON PPP POLICY POSITION RE SEPARATING ATTORNEY GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT FROM MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Our attention has been drawn to comments made by the NPP MP for Nhyiaeso in the Ashanti Region, Hon Kennedy Kwasi Kankam on Peace Fm on 4th September 2017 that the PPPs policy position on setting up an Independent Prosecutor is the same as the NPPs proposal to set up the Special Prosecutor’s office.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

We wish to place on record that what the PPP promised and what the NPP is planning are not analogous in any way.

Many Ghanaians are aware that the PPP has linked its existence to leading a crusade for the implementation of critical reforms such as election of MMDCEs, free but compulsory education from KG to SHS, separation of the Attorney General from the Minister of Justice, and separation of the Executive from the Legislature, MPs not becoming Ministers etc.

We are happy about the vivid and concrete expressions by the NPP to implement aspects of PPP’s own policy visions. We acknowledge that it is a good start.

However, we are not sure how the proposed Special Prosecutor will be working under instructions of the Attorney General and remain independent.

Our proposal is for a detached and separate Office of the Independent Prosecutor.

We believe that the AG who performs the role of Chief Legal Adviser to the government, Minister of State, and guardian of the public interest, is undoubtedly a constitutional oddity.

Our desire is to have a complete separation so that the Minister of Justice becomes the President’s lawyer while the Attorney General’s office becomes the people’s lawyer.

An independent prosecutor is what we need to effectively deal with corruption; and definitely not a special prosecutor who will be working as an appendage under instructions of an Attorney General.

For anyone seriously interested in tackling corruption, the intent and application of the above argument should be straightforward enough!

AWAKE GHANA!

Signed,
Paa Kow Ackon
Communication Director

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