Minister yet to receive legal advice on Chris Asher Jnr.

Accra, March 15, GNA - Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Interior, on Wednesday told Parliament he was yet to receive legal advice on whether to extradite Mr Chris Asher Jnr., said to have broken jail in the 1980's.

"Rt Hon. Speaker, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice is studying the matter. I am yet to receive his advice," the Minister said in response to a question.

Nii Amasah Namoale, (NDC-Dade Kotopon) had sought to find out from the Minister plans to extradite Mr Asher to face the law, describing him as a fugitive lawyer domiciled in the United States.

The member had further questioned why Mr Asher was not arrested after testify at the National Reconciliation Commission.

Mr Mahama Ayariga, (NDC-Bawku Central) had also asked about efforts so far made to speed up the process of getting Mr Asher to face the law but Mr Kan-Dapaah said the Justice Minister, Mr Joe Ghartey was "working very hard on the matter."

Later, at the Commencement of Public Business, there were presentation and First Reading of various bills including the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission Bill 2007.

Government in the 2007 budget statement had said that to demonstrate commitment to the pay reform agenda it would establish a Fair Wages Commission with legally mandated responsibility to administer the new comprehensive pay structure.

It is expected that with the passage of the Bill and consequent establishment of the Commission, the mandates of existing institutions such the Central Management Board and the Public Service Commission would be rationalised.

Meanwhile, the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, has referred the Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2007, read for the first time, to the Finance and Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Committees for study.