The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has said he will work hard to ensure that corruption in Ghana, which he likened to a pandemic, is suppressed and repressed.
“I come into this office and pledge to the people of Ghana as I said exactly two weeks ago, that I am going to work assiduously with deliberation to suppress and repress corruption,” Agyebeng said after he had been sworn into office by President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House on Thursday 5 August.
President Akufo-Addo
On his part, Akufo-Addo after administering the Oath of Allegiance, Official Oath and the Oath of Secrecy to the new Special Prosecutor, said his administration will offer the office of the Special Prosecutor all necessary assistance it needs to fight corruption in the country.
“I want to assure Kissi Agyebeng like I assured his predecessor that not only will the executive including the Attorney General, respect scrupulously the independence of his office, but also provide him with whatever assistance will be required to enable him discharge his high duties effectively in the interest of the Ghanaian people,” Akufo-Addo said.
Appointment timelines
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Dame, on 16 April 2021 wrote to Akufo-Addo, nominating Agyebeng to serve as Special Prosecutor, in line with section 13(1) and (2) of Act 959.
The Appointments Committee of Parliament on Thursday 22 July 2021 vetted and approved Agyebeng. Parliament on 30 July 2021 approved the nomination of Agyebeng.
Agyebeng leaves private legal practice as managing partner at Cromwell Gray LLP after nearly 19 years standing at the Ghanaian bar, to serve in his new position.
The OSP mandate
Act 959, which establishes the Office of the Special Prosecutor, spells out three main objectives of the Office, namely: investigate and prosecute alleged corruption or suspected corruption and corruption related offences, recover the proceeds of corruption and corruption related offences, and take steps to prevent corruption.
Functions of the OSP
The functions entrusted to the Office are: (a) the investigation and prosecution of cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption related offences under the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663);
(b) investigation and prosecution of cases of alleged corruption and corruption related offences under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) involving public officers, politically exposed persons and persons in the private sector involved in the commission of the offence;
(c) investigation and prosecution of cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption related offences involving public officers, politically exposed persons and persons in the private sector involved in the commission of the offence under any other relevant law;
(d) recover and manage the proceeds of corruption;
(e) disseminate information gathered in the course of investigation to competent authorities and other persons the Office considers appropriate in connection with the offences specified in paragraphs (a) and (b);
(f) co-operate and coordinate with competent authorities and other relevant local and international agencies in furtherance of the Act; and (g) receive and investigate complaints from a person on a matter that involves or may involve corruption and corruption-related offences.
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