The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has stated that strong support from the Ghanaian populace and civil society organisations is necessary to safeguard the existence and core mandate of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) if corruption is to be effectively tackled in the country.
He made the call at the National Dialogue on the Office of the Special Prosecutor, held at the Fiesta Royale Hotel under the auspices of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and its partners, to underscore the institution’s critical role in fighting corruption-related offences.
Speaking as the keynote speaker, the Special Prosecutor urged active citizen involvement and sustained advocacy from civil society groups to ensure that the Office remains independent and effectively delivers on its legal mandate.
“The Office of the Special Prosecutor, within the current context of our democracy, is one of the key agencies that must be supported and backed by the full force of the Ghanaian populace and civil society actors in order to enforce the national resolve to combat corruption and corruption-related offences that continue to hinder Ghana’s progress and development,” he said.
He further noted that proposals submitted to the Constitution Review Committee regarding the full operational independence of the Office would strengthen its neutrality and enhance its ability to deal decisively with offences under its mandate.
“As part of ongoing legal reforms aimed at expanding the scope of the 1992 Constitution, the government, under President Mahama, has established a committee to solicit views from a broad range of stakeholders across the country. Fortunately, the OSP has had the opportunity to engage the committee and submit policy proposals to reinforce our independence and entrench our role within Ghana’s democratic framework,” he added.
The well-attended dialogue brought together representatives from civil society organisations, policymakers, researchers, selected journalists, and development partners to discuss the operations of the Office of the Special Prosecutor and measures to enhance its effectiveness.
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Story by Sika Togoh | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
