Former Auditor General Daniel Yao Domelevo has advised government officials to refrain from interfering with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
He has also called on President Akufo-Addo to offer support to the OSP to ensure it can achieve its objectives.
The Special Prosecutor recently overcame a challenge to his removal from office.
At the 2024 Domelevo Accountability Lectures, Domelevo emphasized that, despite his earlier reservations about the OSP, it is crucial to support the office in its anti-corruption efforts.
He noted his collaboration with the inaugural Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, in laying the groundwork for the OSP’s success.
Domelevo highlighted the need to provide the necessary resources and backing to the OSP to effectively fight corruption.
He also expressed concern over the significant difficulties faced by the current Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, which are affecting his ability to perform his duties.
Domelevo urged government officials to safeguard Agyebeng and allow him to carry out his responsibilities, emphasizing that he appears to be genuinely committed to tackling corruption.
“Institutional and legal frameworks are not enough to effectively combat corruption, and that is the state in which we have found ourselves here in Ghana. After establishing the institutions, we must give them the oxygen to breathe.”
“Let me be very honest with you. I was in office as Auditor General when the Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill was put together, and I was not enthused at all about it, but the bill was passed, and I said to myself, well, even though in principle I don’t support it, if this is what it would take for us to win the war against corruption, why not? So those of you who followed events, I was working closely with Honorable Martin Amidu. Unfortunately, he was barred out of office, out of pressure, and we are all aware of what happened.”
“Then comes the young man, Kissi Agyebeng, and the young man is facing troubles and challenges like nobody’s business. So I said, the one who put him there, don’t you know that you have to protect this guy? You should be calling people and saying, shut up, back off, let him do his work.
“So please, government officials and people in government, leave the special prosecutor alone. He seems to be the only person serious about corruption today, from my point of view. So let’s give him the oxygen for him to be able to do his work.”