He explained that in view of the determination by the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs that the bills were not of urgent nature, they should be withdrawn and relaid.

The Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, supported the motion for the withdrawal.

Special Prosecutor Bill

The Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill, 2017, is to establish the Office of a Special Prosecutor as a specialised agency to investigate specific cases of corruption involving public officers and politically exposed persons in the performance of their functions as well as persons in the private sector implicated in the commission of corruption.

The Special Prosecutor will prosecute the offences on the authority of the Attorney General.

The Zongo Development Fund Bill, 2017, is to establish the Zongo Development Fund as an authority to provide financial resources for investment in education, infrastructure and businesses to develop and transform the social and economic conditions in Zongo communities and to provide for the management of the fund.

Background

The Bill was laid in Parliament last week Tuesday on behalf of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Following a debate as to whether the Bill should be treated under a certificate of urgency, the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, directed the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to determine the urgency or otherwise of the Bill.

The Zongo Development Fund Bill, 2017, which was also laid last week Tuesday, was referred to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development and Finance Committee for consideration and report.