GhanaStar
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music
No Result
View All Result
GhanaStar
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music
No Result
View All Result
GhanaStar
No Result
View All Result
Home Top Stories

Independent Prosecutor Can Cause Serious Havoc

February 24, 2017
in Top Stories
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A former deputy Interior minister has urged President Akufo-Addo to tread cautiously in creating an office of Independent Prosecutor because it can become an uncontrollable monster.

You Might Also Like

Prominent Ghanaian Leaders and Clergy Honor Late Apostle Dr. Michael Kwabena Ntumy at State House Funeral

Vice President Bawumia Shares Inspiring Journey from Oxford University to Political Success

The Diverse Currencies of Africa: Impact on Economic Growth

James Agalga, during a debate on the President’s State of the Nation Address, told Parliament the US experiment with the office of an Independent prosecutor showed some shortcomings which Ghana must learn from.

The creation of the office of Independent Prosecutor is part of the armoury of measures which President Akufo-Addo believes will help fight corruption, seen to be lacklustre due to political interference.

Explaining the rationale behind the move, Akufo-Addo told the BBC in January 2017, the office will be tasked with political crimefighting within government.

“We have decided that we want to take the politics out of [the fight against corruption], so that the screams of witch-hunting and others will not arise, by establishing an office of a special prosecutor or somebody who will be independent of the executive and whose remit will be to investigate and tackle issues of corruption.

“Hopefully, that person is going to be somebody who is going to command the respect of the society, and at the same time has an independent mind to make the decisions,” he said.

There is huge public interest in this campaign promise and the seven-week-old government is expected to initiate the enactment of a legislation to create the office.

But touching on the subject in parliament, James Agalga said while he supports the move, it can cause ‘havoc to the authority of the executive’ if the prosecutor is overzealous and unaccountable.

He referred to warnings contained in a judgement delivered by US Supreme Court judge Antonin Scalia in 1988 when the constitutionality of the law creating the office was challenged.

Scalia was worried that an “overzealous, unaccountable” independent counsel could pick his or her targets, and then prosecute them for even the most minor or technical offences.

Scalia was concerned that the appointed IP would weaken the authority of an elected Presidency, and expose the head of the executive branch to “debilitating criminal investigations”.

His main argument is that the separation of powers into three arms of government could be disrupted by the creation of an Independent Prosecutor.

This is because the office reduces the power of the President exercised through the Attorney-General and hence violates the Constitution.

History has tested the two separate views in the 7 – 1 ruling on the US case and analyst have lined up to largely endorse Scalia’s views.

President Bill Clinton who once described the law authorising the IP as a “foundation stone for the trust between the Government and our citizens” later found his government under seven separate investigations by mid-1998.

Twenty years after the independent counsel law was first passed in 1978, Congress declined to re-authorise the law after it expired on June 30, 1999.

Many say Scalia’s views proved prophetic.

Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.

Tags: addoanalystAntonin ScaliaAttorney GeneralBBCBill ClintoncongressDeputy Interior MinisterghanaGhanaian peopleheadIndependent CounselIndependent ProsecutorJames AgalgajudgeLaw_CrimeNana Akufo-AddoNewspaper & Magazine Printing ServicespoliticsPolitics of GhanapresidentprosecutorRebecca Akufo-Addospecial prosecutortackleUnited StatesUS Supreme Court

Related News

Prominent Ghanaian Leaders and Clergy Honor Late Apostle Dr. Michael Kwabena Ntumy at State House Funeral

Prominent Ghanaian Leaders and Clergy Honor Late Apostle Dr. Michael Kwabena Ntumy at State House Funeral

by ghanastar
February 25, 2024
0

In a poignant ceremony held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the Forecourt of the State House, hundreds of mourners...

Vice President Bawumia Shares Inspiring Journey from Oxford University to Political Success

Vice President Bawumia Shares Inspiring Journey from Oxford University to Political Success

by ghanastar
June 17, 2023
0

In a heartfelt revelation of his life's journey, the Vice President of the Republic, His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, spoke...

The Diverse Currencies of Africa: Impact on Economic Growth

The Diverse Currencies of Africa: Impact on Economic Growth

by ghanastar
June 17, 2023
0

Africa, a continent rich in cultural diversity, is home to a vast array of currencies. With 54 recognized countries, each...

Suicide at Aburi Botanical Gardens: Man Found Dead

Suicide at Aburi Botanical Gardens: Man Found Dead

by ghanastar
January 14, 2023
0

A man, believed to be in his fifties, has died by suicide in the Aburi Botanical Gardens in the Eastern...

Next Post

12,000 Artisans From Suame Magazine Jobless Due To Technology

New Hamas Gaza Leader In Rare Public Appearance

Categories

  • Africa & World
  • African Music Lyrics Directory
  • Business
  • Business Directory
  • celebrities
  • Computing
  • Diaspora
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Feature
  • Featured
  • Ghana Elections 2016
  • Headlines
  • Health
  • International
  • Internet
  • Jobs
  • lifestyle
  • Music
  • News
  • Offbeat
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Profiles
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Seth Terkper
  • Smart Home
  • Social Networks
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Top Stories
  • World News

Tags

accra addo africa Association football Banks - NEC business Business_Finance chairman Donald Trump economy education Entertainment_Culture environment Geography of Africa ghana Ghanaian people government Government of Ghana Human Interest John Dramani Mahama john mahama Law_Crime mahama minister MPs elected in the Ghanaian parliamentary election Nana Addo Nana Addo Dankwa Nana Akufo-Addo National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (NDC) New Patriotic Party New Patriotic Party (NPP) nigeria politics Politics of Ghana president Social Issues Social Media Social Media & Networking sports United Kingdom United Nations United States Vice President War_Conflict

Recent Posts

  • Government of Ghana Unveils Official Portraits of President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
  • Who Is the Woman (Sheena Gakpe) in Sarkodie’s Latest Hit “No Sir” and Why Everyone Is Talking about It
List of Ghana Holidays for 2020
Ghana Geocoding
Ghana Cedis Exchange API
Ghana Maps Service
Toyota Cars Auto Auction History
  • African Music Lyrics Directory
  • Business Directory
  • Diaspora
  • Top Stories

All rights reserved © 2021 GhanaStar.com

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music

All rights reserved © 2021 GhanaStar.com