The Deputy Minister for Justice, Mr. Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, has indicated that the budgetary allocation of GH¢180 million to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is justifiable.
Debating on the 2019 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the government at the Plenary, Mr. Kpemka stated that infrastructure to house the staff of the Office of the Special Prosecutor is not enough, and that there is the need to equip the Office.
The Deputy Attorney-General, who doubles as Member of Parliament for Tempane, explained that the prosecutorial division, investigative division, recovery of assert division, amongst others, need to be established at the Office.
He reiterated that the allotted amount to the Office would be able to cater for the infrastructure, human resource and its operationalisation.
Supporting the motion on the 2019 Budget Statement, Mr. Kpemka informed the House that the needs of the Office of the Special Prosecutor are not the same as the Attorney-General’s Department.
“We have gone a step further in order to deepen our democratic dispensation. In other jurisdiction, such as the United States of America (USA), the Office of the Special Prosecutor does not have permanent structures to initiate prosecution. It operate on the ad-hoc system, where as and when a particular issue arises”, he explained.
Minority’s objection
Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East and Former Deputy Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, from the Minority side, averred that the disparate allocation of only GH¢104 million to the Attorney-General and GH¢180 million to the Office of the Special Prosecutor will affect the work of the Attorney-General.
Debating on the 2019 Budget Statement pursuant to Order 148(1) and (2) of the Standing Orders Parliament, Mr. Ayine explained that the Attorney-General has the prosecutorial power to prosecute in accordance with Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution, and that only GH¢104 million is problematic.
“I know the commitment to fight corruption is what the government is putting in place but the disparity in the disbursement of funds is a problem”, he concluded.
Source: GhanaJustice/S.Ayisi
