The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has assented to the Bill for the establishment of the Office of Special Prosecutor, at a brief signing ceremony at the Flagstaff House, on Tuesday, 2nd January, 2017.
In the presence of the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, President Akufo-Addo also signed the Bills establishing the Zongo Development Fund, the Coastal Development Authority, the Middle Belt Development Authority and the Northern Development Authority.
These bills, according to President Akufo-Addo, are “some of the most important elements of the New Patriotic Party’s (2016) manifesto, upon which we were elected into office”, and “have now found legislative expression.”
Signing the Bill for the establishment of the Office of Special Prosecutor, President Akufo-Addo stated that “my hope and expectation is that the establishment of this office is going to be an important step in our collective determination to root out corruption in the public life of our country.”
The President continued, “All of us know it (corruption) is a major bane in the development of Ghana, and, hopefully, this office will make sure that public officials, past and present, are held to account for their actions, and that corrupt acts will no longer go without investigation, and, if necessary, sanction, once due process has been respected.”
On the establishment of the Coastal, Middle Belt and Northern Development Authorities, President Akufo-Addo explained that, in the course of the 2016 campaign, the political leadership of the NPP made it clear it wanted to try a new approach to the development of Ghana – a new approach which went to the decentralisation of the development paradigm.
This, the President said, is because the centralised approach to development witnessed in the aftermath of Ghana’s post-colonial life has not been successful in delivering development at the grassroots of the society.
“Therefore, we made this commitment that we will spend on each constituency, every year, the equivalent of $1 million. These Development Authorities, which are now going to be put in place, will be the vehicle for the management of these funds, and the expenditure of the equivalent of $1 million per constituency commitment,” he added.
Explaining the rationale for the enactment of the Zongo Development Fund, President Akufo-Addo indicated that “we have insisted that this particular community, the Zongos, require a special consideration from our development initiatives, for reasons that are obvious – the deprivation and under-development that has characterised the lives of the peoples of the Zongos.
“It is not something that a healthy society can tolerate, and it is important that affirmative action of the sort is taken to address the needs of the Zongos. That is what the establishment of this Fund is going to try to do.”
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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So why is it that NPP cannot show the real self of the president and verytime showing us this photoshopped picture? Are they shy of their own president? This is not a 73 year old man so stop this ***barred word*** and let everybody see who is keading jus
Why is it that it's made to look as if this good office will only prosecute corrupt politicians i guess there as there are civil servants who are more corrupt than politician and i think we should be talking about that as well so they should not be left out.I guess this is just the beginning and thrust President Nana Addo and Vice Dr Alhaji Bawumia will also strengthen our law enforcement institutions so that citizens will be more law abiding
*PRESS RELEASE BY THE YOUTH ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE* *COMMENCE PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO THE STATE PROSECUTOR BILL WITH YOUR OWN APPOINTEES.* We the above mentioned movement on behalf of the entire youth of this country would like to congratulate His Execellency the president for assenting to the much anticipated and most relevant state prosecutor bill. We extrapolate that this bill will go down into the history books of the nation and will help curb the deficiency of corruption which is major a canker and cancer in this nation. From our point of glance, it is foreseeable that this bill will help regulate the bureaucracy in our governmental institution and also institute some sort of check on the governmental agenies. However, per our constitution and also, per the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Larden No:2 v AG, it is clear that, laws enacted do not have retrospective effects. But this bill, maybe deemed by a lay man or ordinary man on the street to have been intended to witch hunt appointees of the previous administration. We the youth alliance for responsible governance are pleading and suggesting to the president to commence proceedings under this bill with his own appointees and that is to mention the numerous allegations leveled against the Brong Ahafo regional minister Hon. Asomah Cheremeh. With reference to the petitions of the following; 1. workers of the dormaa wood village 2. Mr. Kwame Baffoe Abronye DC 3. Senior Citizens of the B/A region 4. Concern Youth Of The B/A region. Etc.... All above petitions, which had the President and othet relevant persons served are based on grounds of corruption against the Minister. Mr. President, prior to assenting to the bill, you stated unambiguously and categorically clear that, this bill is aimed at making governmental officials accountable for their acts and omissions with regards to corruption and misappropriation of state funds and you also substantiated the fact that, it is not meant to witch hunt past governmental appointees but to investigate corrupt allegations. Per this statement, we wish to petition the president to commence proceedings under the said bill by probing the popular and numerous allegations against Hon. Asoamah Chremeh.( Brong Ahafo Regional Minister). And all several others who may fall within the criteria in this administration before going out for previous appointees. As it is commonly said by our elders, "You clean your home before you go about cleaning other persons homes". We have concretely prepared our petition and will be serving the appropriate authorities adequately and duly within the shortest possible time. Signed Kwesi Botchway Jnr (PRO) 0560288500
I propose Lawyer/Lecturer Ace Ankomah or Hon. Martin Amidu. They have the integrity, competence and the drive to see Gh developed.
Asiedu Nketiah, your day has come. You boldly ask for it less than a week ago and it has come to pass. My plea to you is that , don't chameleon yourself tomorrow and propagandize it please. We all have only ONE GHANA and all of us want it to strife ,survive and succeed for us all. God Bless Ghana and god Bless the President and right thinking Ghanaians.
this is god news but pls dont take another year looking for someone to take the office. I know there is going to be a lot of debate on who becomes the SP. As far as I know everyone in this country has a political affiliation or a party has some soft spot for. the only thing necessary is for the person to be neutral irrespective of his/her political affiliation. I know shd have some ple in mind. so if possible send out some rumours of names and lets see how the public will debate on the names. that will help a lot b4 coming into conclusion. we can do this in a month or two. I suggest myself. Thank you!
I BACK THIS LAW AS LONG AS IT IS NOT USED SELECTIVELY
Ogyam is right! the so-called influential ppl pleading on behalf of the corrupt ppl are also ruining the fight> Lock all of them up. Pls, and let us move Ghana forward. Until we LOCK UP ALL CORRUPT PPLE, Ghana cannot move forward
Bold and good initiative in respect to S.P.O. Succinctly, if this can succeed then all must support it, govt. must pay workers well for them to get some to save. Also people who come begging for those who fall foul of the law must be exposed to public ridicule and punishment.
well done Mr. Prez.Is my wish and prayer the S.P.O shd not be used against only opposition parties. except this congrats Mr. Prez.