Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has made a startling revelation about the severe risks that come with his position, disclosing that his security threat level is ultra-high.
Speaking at the Constitution Day Public Lecture, on Friday, February 28, 2025, he pointed out the immense dangers he and his team face in their pursuit of justice and accountability.
He stated that the threats extend beyond reputational harm and sometimes pose a direct danger to his life.
“Some of the enemies this job attracts will not hesitate to take a life should the opportunity present itself,” he warned, adding that both he and his team operate under a constant threat to their safety.
“Thus, my security risk is ultra-high, and I have to perpetually be on the lookout for attacks on my person,” he noted.
Describing the nature of his role, he remarked, “The position of Special Prosecutor is a thankless job. It fetches you droves of enemies daily and brings you into direct confrontation with the lowest forms of debasement in humans. You do not go asking for it; it finds you.”
He touched on the contradiction surrounding his work, emphasising that while the public demands accountability, resistance quickly arises when particular individuals or groups come under scrutiny.
“The paradox surrounding the role of the Special Prosecutor is evident: while the public clamors for accountability and the eradication of corruption, resistance surfaces the moment the scrutiny is directed at particular individuals or groups.
“Everyone wants the Special Prosecutor to do his job, yet no one wants the Special Prosecutor to do his job. It all depends on the subject of the investigation,” he stated.
The Special Prosecutor stressed the relentless backlash that comes with corruption investigations, noting that those under probe often go to great lengths to evade scrutiny.
“Though we accept that we need to rein in corruption, no one wants to yield freely to scrutiny. No one happily accedes to indictment. No one welcomes investigations. No one wants to be called out as a suspect in corruption-related activities. And so, there is always a strong pushback, intended to deflect focus from scrutiny and accountability,” he said.
According to him, this resistance manifests in various ways, including orchestrated attacks, smear campaigns, and damaging publications aimed at discrediting the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The Office was set up in 2018 by the former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a specialised independent anti-corruption institution in pursuance of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
The OSP has been actively investigating several high-profile corruption cases, including probes into the National Cathedral project and Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML).
JKB/AE