I’ll begin prosecuting corruption cases from next year, says Kissi Agyebeng

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng says his office will from next year begin prosecution of some cases under investigation since assuming office in August.

Agyebeng says the OSP would also carry out anti-corruption risk assessment and review of all major public contracts, legislation and draft legislation.

This is intended to avoid toxic deals and the prevalence of judgment debts and arbitral awards.

Addressing the media as part of activities of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to mark the UN international day on anti-corruption on Thursday (9 December) Agyebeng says his office is currently investigating 31 cases.

“The OSP has completed a review of all the alleged cases of corruption and corruption-related offences before it. Currently, the OSP is investigating thirty-one (31) active cases and it will in due course commence the prosecution in the courts of the cases it considers probatively strong. There is no case commenced by the OSP pending in the courts at the moment.”

“The OSP would vigorously investigate and prosecute cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences and recover proceeds of such offences through property tracing of tainted property and currency in line with our vision of rendering corruption a costly enterprise,” he said.

Agyebeng also said his outfit will begin the annual Ghana Corruption League Table from 9 December 2022.

“From January 2022 the OSP will institute, as part of its pressure-for- progress drive, an Annual Ghana Corruption League Table to assess perceived levels of public sector corruption in the estimation of experts and business people. In aid of this, public agencies would be ranked against each other on a corruption barometer and the results would be publicised every 9 December.”

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) the 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.