President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has taken a significant step by formally submitting a petition for the removal of Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng from office.
The petition, as mandated by law, has been forwarded to Chief Justice Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The submission of the petition was confirmed by GhanaWeb, revealing that it was initiated by Agyebeng’s predecessor and vocal critic, Martin Amidu.
Reports indicate that Amidu’s grounds for seeking Agyebeng’s removal include procurement breaches and alleged abuse of office during Agyebeng’s tenure at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Accra-based TV3 has outlined six key allegations in the petition:
1.Accroachment of Authority: Amidu claims that Agyebeng overstepped his authority by appointing staff to the OSP without proper approval, allegedly encroaching on the president’s powers.
2.Inducement of Staff: The petition alleges that Agyebeng induced staff from other law enforcement agencies with promises of higher salaries and ranks, citing recruitment from agencies like EOCO and the Ghana Police Service.
3.Abuse of Citizens’ Rights: Amidu accuses the OSP under Agyebeng of abusing the rights of citizens through arrests and detentions in various cases.
4.Abuse of the Judiciary: Agyebeng’s criticism of judicial decisions regarding OSP cases is seen as abusive by Amidu, who claims it undermines the judiciary’s integrity.
5.Procurement Breaches: The petition highlights alleged procurement rule violations in the OSP’s office refurbishment and vehicle acquisitions.
6.Refusal to Comply with RTI Requests: Amidu alleges that the OSP did not fulfill multiple Right to Information requests, indicating a lack of transparency.
The Chief Justice has requested Agyebeng’s responses to these allegations to determine the next steps in the process.
This development underscores ongoing tensions within Ghana’s legal and law enforcement landscape.
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