Experts on Ghana’s political dispensation have agreed that improved security measures for Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor, and his staff are needed to enable them to fight corruption without fear.
This follows a speech delivered by the Special Prosecutor at the Constitution Day Lecture in Accra, where expressed concerns over the security threats he (Mr Agyebeng) and his staff faced, revealing the personal risks associated with his role.
“My security risk is ultra high. And I have to perpetually be on the lookout for attacks on my person. Same applies to especially the operational officers of the OSP,” he said.
“The job is thankless. It fetches you droves of enemies daily. It brings you into frontal contact with the lowest forms of debasement in humans. You do not go asking for it. It finds you. That is the nature of the job.”
With that in perspective, Mr Kofi Bentil, Senior Vice President and Policy Analyst at IMANI Africa, at a panel discussion on Joy News’ Newsfile on Saturday, emphasised the need for greater support and protection for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), citing the risks associated with its mandate.
“We all want to change. We all want to change, but nobody wants to change. We should take care of them [the OSP].”
He noted that a comprehensive corrupt practices act would help to clearly define and address corruption-related offenses.
Mr Bentil said the laws must be clear and stringent to afford the country the opportunity to concisely set out what corruption and related offences meant and the prescribed punishments.
Acknowledging the immense challenges associated with the OSP’s work, Mr Bentil described Mr Agyebeng as “a resilient individual who is well-suited for the job.”
He advocated the greater independence of the OSP, suggesting the handling of all prosecutions by the Office rather than the Attorney General’s Department to minimise political interference.
“In fact, I am really pushing hard that all prosecution should go to that office, instead of the Attorney General, which is political, and they’re going to get non-prosecutors,” he said.
“If all the prosecutions over which we’ve seen non-prosecutors were at the Special Prosecutor’s place, a change of government may not affect much. So, that office is useful. We may even need to expand it.”
Dr Thomas Anaba, the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament (MP) of Garu, and a former Medical Director at Ridge Hospital, criticised what he described as a lack of genuine commitment by the country’s leadership to fight corruption.
“Leadership of the country set up anti-corruption agencies as a pin smoke. That is how I see it—smoke screen. So that behind it, they are doing what they want.”
“You occupy an office and at the end, you either agree with them or they deal with you…”.
Dr Anaba said Ghana lost billions of dollars to corruption annually, yet the OSP operated with limited resources, making it difficult to confront well-connected individuals who engaged in corrupt practices.
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, New Patriotic Party MP of Walewale, acknowledged the structural limitations of the OSP within Ghana’s democratic framework.
“Unfortunately for the OSP, we are practicing a very democratic regime, where the rights of individuals, even no matter how criminal minded they are, would have to be litigated to,” he said.
“So, when he comes off as someone facing that kind of opposition, I understand why he should be concerned.”
A threat to the Special Prosecutor’s life was a threat to Ghana’s sustainability and political development, Dr Mahama said, urging collective support for the OSP’s mission.
Panelists concluded on the need for stronger legislation, increased security for the Special Prosecutor, and sustained public commitment to combating corruption in Ghana.
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