Ministers Breaking The Law Will Be Prosecuted

The newly appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Papa Owusu Ankomah, has stated that since his NPP administration has already launched a crusade against all forms of corruption in the country, his administration would be left with no option but to pursue it to its logical conclusion.

In furtherance of this, he said his office would not shield anyone caught to have infringed upon the laws of this country, irrespective of the person's status in the society. He would rather allow the law to take its own course which, in a nutshell, means that the person would be hauled before the law courts to answer his or her charges brought against that person.

"Under the NPP administration, the law is not a respecter of any person, irrespective of the person's role in the society. So I personally believe that where one infringes upon the law governing the country, the law should be allowed to take its natural course to deal with him," he said in an exclusive interview he granted to the Chronicle last Sunday at Sekondi, where he was on a short visit.

When asked whether he could muster courage to prosecute his colleague ministers in the law courts should any of them be caught in the corruption web, which he has vowed to fight against, Owusu Ankomah said he still maintains his position that the law is not a respecter of any person, irrespective of where he or she is coming from, and that he will always allow the law to take its natural course.

On whether he would still continue with the prosecution of some of the previous NDC government functionaries in the law courts, as was being done by his predecessor, the new Attorney General replied that he has not taken over officially, and therefore he could not be commenting on such an issue. He however maintained that he still stands by his philosophy of allowing the law to take its own natural course.

"Your predecessor received a lot of criticisms from the public with some even calling for his resignation when Tsatsu Tsikata floored him sometime ago in a legal battle. I do not expect you to find yourself in such a situation, but should it happen, what would you do as an attorney general?" This reporter asked him.

"Your question is based on assumption. Unfortunately, I don't deal with such questions but I told you earlier that I will do the best that is humanly possible to justify the confidence President Kufuor has reposed in me by appointing me to this high office of the land, and I am appealing to all Ghanaians to help me in this regard," he replied.

Papa Owusu Ankomah, who admitted that his appointment is a challenge that has been thrown to him by the President, still promised he would not disappoint him and said one of the principal tasks involved in the building of a just and a decent society is the maintenance of law and order, which is a challenge facing Ghana as a country. He promised that his new administration would continue to bring the law in line with the modern trends by ensuring equal and speedy access to justice, and also institute the rule of law, public accountability and crusade against corruption.

Papa Owusu Ankomah, who is also the outgoing majority leader and the Member of Parliament for Sekondi, further told the Chronicle that his office would also establish the framework that would enable the government to achieve the President's goal of establishing a golden age of business in the country.

He added that Nana Akufo Addo, whom he described as a senior colleague, has done a considerable work in this direction and that it is his intention to build upon his work in the furtherance of the President's goal and thereby put the rule of law at the center in his quest for a disciplined society.

He also said in order to achieve the aims and objectives he has set for his ministry, he will be relying on the support of dedicated professionals and public servants, especially those at the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General's Department who have, over the years, committed themselves to the fulfilment of this task.

When asked whether he has any intention of bringing a bill to parliament to amend article 78 of the Constitution which mandates the President to appoint most of his ministers from parliament, an order which has been criticised of late by a section of the public who have also called for its amendment, he said he has no intention to do that because amendment can only take place after a meaningful and exhaustive debate.

In this case, he continued, the debate has just started so it would be wrong for him to move for the amendment of that portion of the constitution.

"The constitution is the framework of the government, so it is not something that can easily be amended," he added.