By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Feb 21, GNA – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says he will, happily, assent to the Right To Information (RTI) Bill as soon as it is brought to his table.
“I am happy to state that, as you know, Parliament has virtually completed its deliberations on the Right To Information Bill, and that, any moment from now, the nation will hear the news of its long, anticipated passage,” President Akufo-Addo said on Thursday in his 2019 State of the Nation Address to Parliament.
On justice delivery, President Akufo-Addo said, he was aware of the frustration of many at the delays in the justice delivery system, which were the result of a multiplicity of factors, which we are trying to address.
He said this must be the appropriate time and place to mention the abysmal state of the lower courts around our country.
He said many people must have seen on television the barely concealed outrage of the Chief Justice, as she had been going around examining the courts.
“It is obvious that most of the lower courts are not fit for purpose, and we must provide suitable structures for our law courts. Discussions on how to raise the money are currently ongoing, and I am optimistic that a solution will be found,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“I am pleased to note that there appears to have been a marked change in the Ministry of Justice. No longer do we have people bringing frivolous claims against the State because they know the case will not be defended, and they will get judgement debts.”
He said, he believes the word was now out that every claim against the government would be vigorously defended, and the State would no longer be the soft touch it used to be for people to get suspiciously large judgement debts awarded to them.
“We all await the Special Prosecutor to start his work. It is in everybody’s interest that we know that any accusations of corruption in public office will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted, if the prima facie evidence is there,” the President stated.
He noted that this should be an essential feature of the governance culture of our country.
“For myself, I know the Special Prosecutor to be a responsible public official, who will act when he is ready,” President Akufo-Addo said.
GNA
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