The Special Prosecutor, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, has called for constitutional reforms and a national mindset shift to fortify Ghana’s fight against corruption and state capture.
Speaking at the 5th Annual Constitution Day Public Lecture in Accra, Mr Agyebeng proposed integrating the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into the Constitution to safeguard its independence and operational efficiency.
“We must transform the Constitution by integrating anti-corruption concepts and institutions into its structure,” he stated.
The lecture, themed “A Few Good Men: Suppressing and Repressing Corruption and State Capture in Aid of Development,” was organised by the UPSA Law School in collaboration with the One Ghana Movement.
Mr Agyebeng criticised the current legal framework, citing Section 79 of Act 959 as ambiguous and unnecessarily complex, which hinders effective prosecution.
To address this, he advocated for the passage of a Corrupt Practices Act, which would provide a clear and structured legal framework to define corruption and eliminate loopholes that allow individuals to escape accountability.
The Special Prosecutor highlighted deliberate efforts to undermine the OSP, including calls from influential figures to dissolve the office.
“We frequently hear calls—often from the highest levels—that the OSP should be scrapped because it serves no useful purpose,” he revealed.
He also noted attempts to discredit the Office and its officials, particularly from individuals under investigation and their associates.
Despite these obstacles, Mr Agyebeng maintained that the OSP remains Ghana’s best opportunity to combat corruption, even if it is seen as an “inconvenience” by some powerful individuals.
To reinforce Ghana’s fight against corruption, Mr Agyebeng outlined several key reforms:
– Unexplained Wealth Investigations & Lifestyle Audits: Extending scrutiny beyond public officials to include private individuals with suspicious wealth.
– Regulating Political Party Financing: Ensuring greater transparency in campaign funding and eliminating vote-buying.
– Specialised Anti-Corruption Courts: Training judges to handle corruption cases with specific legal expertise.
– Anti-Corruption Education: Integrating anti-corruption studies into school curricula to instil ethical values in future generations.
Mr Agyebeng stressed that corruption cannot be tackled through legal reforms alone but requires a national shift in attitudes.
“Societal interest must always take precedence over personal gain,” he asserted.
The lecture was reviewed by Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh, Executive Director of CDD-Ghana and newly appointed Chair of the Constitution Review Committee. Also in attendance was Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who reviewed Mr Agyebeng’s proposals.