The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has strongly opposed the suggestion to transfer the anti-corruption responsibilities of his office to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), asserting that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) should remain Ghana’s foremost institution dedicated to the fight against corruption.
In a forum organized by the Constitutional Review Committee, Mr. Agyebeng dismissed what he described as ‘misguided’ proposals to dissolve the OSP and reallocate its duties to CHRAJ.
Numerous critics have targeted the OSP, alleging that it overlaps with the roles of the Attorney General and other investigative agencies.
Among them is Dr. Michael Ayamga Adongo, an Economist at the University for Development Studies (UDS), who contends that the OSP is undermining efforts to combat corruption and related offenses.
Additionally, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for the dissolution of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, claiming that it has proven ineffective. Nevertheless, Mr. Agyebeng maintains a contrasting perspective.
There have been proposals suggesting that CHRAJ should assume this responsibility. However, this approach is not feasible.
It is essential for CHRAJ to concentrate on its human rights mandate while we constitutionally establish the OSP as the primary institution for anti-corruption initiatives,” he remarked. Mr. Agyebeng cautioned that dismantling the OSP would severely jeopardize Ghana’s advancements in combating corruption.
He elaborated that the existing framework, where the OSP addresses corruption, CHRAJ focuses on human rights, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) manages economic crimes, has been effective since the OSP commenced operations in 2018.
“In this structure, CHRAJ works in close partnership with the OSP, while both entities collaborate with EOCO in its pursuit of economic crimes,” Mr. Agyebeng clarified. “Our experience since 2018 indicates that this system functions effectively.”
The OSP was founded in 2018 as the premier and exemplary independent anti-corruption institution in Ghana, in alignment with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
The Office of Special Prosecutions (OSP) aims to investigate and prosecute particular instances of alleged or suspected corruption and related offenses within both the public and private sectors.
Its goals include recovering the proceeds from these acts by reclaiming illicit and unexplained wealth, as well as implementing measures to prevent corruption.
As of Monday, April 28, the OSP announced on its website that it has successfully prosecuted four cases, recovered more than GHS 3 million, and saved the nation over GHS 135 million.
