The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has strongly opposed the idea of transferring the anti-corruption mandate from his office to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), asserting that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is essential for Ghana’s ongoing fight against corruption.
Speaking at a Constitutional Review Committee forum, Mr. Agyebeng dismissed suggestions to abolish the OSP and merge its responsibilities with those of CHRAJ, labelling the calls as “misguided.” He emphasized that the OSP must remain Ghana’s primary institution for tackling corruption.
While some critics, including University for Development Studies Economist Dr. Michael Ayamga Adongo, argue that the OSP duplicates the roles of other agencies such as the Attorney General’s office, and the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has called for the office’s abolition due to perceived ineffectiveness, Agyebeng maintains a different perspective.
“I have heard proposals that CHRAJ should take on the anti-corruption mandate, but this simply will not work. Let CHRAJ continue focusing on its human rights mandate while the OSP remains the lead institution for anti-corruption efforts,” Mr. Agyebeng stated.
Highlighting the importance of maintaining the current system, Agyebeng explained that the OSP, CHRAJ, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) each play vital roles in addressing corruption, human rights violations, and economic crimes, respectively.
“The OSP, CHRAJ, and EOCO have effectively collaborated since the OSP’s inception in 2018. This system works because each agency focuses on its core mandate, ensuring a comprehensive approach to governance and accountability,” Agyebeng added.
The OSP, created in 2018 to comply with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), has made significant strides, securing four prosecutions, recovering over GHS 3 million, and saving the country more than GHS 135 million in potential losses.
