"Eric Amoateng Bill" Debated

... Bill to bring home convicted criminals
The controversial Transfer of Convicted Persons Bill, alias "Eric Amoateng Bill" has gone through the first stage of legislation in parliament.

The Bill, when passed, would enable Ghanaians serving jail terms abroad to be repatriated to continue their sentences in Ghana.

The Bill was laid today by the outgoing deputy minister of Justice & Attonery General, Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, and was referred to Parliament?s Committee on Legal Constitutional and Parliamentary for consideration and report to the House.

However, some Members of Parliament(MP), especially those on the minority National Democratic Congress(NDC) say they would oppose the Bill.

The NDC MPs have argued that the introduction of the Bill is an attempt by government to prepare grounds for drug suspect, and Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Eric Amoateng.

Speaking to and Accra based radio station -JoyFM - Francis Agbotse, the NDC MP for Ho West said ?I don?t want to impute the motive that it is politically motivated. I don?t also want to accept that it is because of Eric Amoateng that this Bill has been brought?.

?I know that they are a lot of Ghanaians in various prisons outside the country due mainly to narcotic peddling. I don?t think it is time for us to have an Act where Ghanaians outside because of personal matters, not for the nation, be transferred to Ghana to serve sentences?.

?Our prisons are already full. I don?t think it?s the right time for this Bill to be introduced?, he said.