A recently resurfaced video features Ken Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, making predictions about the Office of the Special Prosecutor. This follows the recent public expression of frustration by the incumbent Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng.
In the video, which captures Agyapong’s appearance on Net 2 TV, the outspoken politician foretells Agyebeng’s failure to fulfil his mandate.
Agyapong attributes this predicted failure to the pervasive corruption within the ruling party, specifically highlighting issues related to illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as “galamsey.” According to Agyapong, these corruption challenges will likely impede the effectiveness of the Special Prosecutor’s efforts.
“You are going to appoint a Special Prosecutor; you see, when I point out a finger, the remaining four point back at you, NPP. You will not be able to prosecute anyone. I am speaking in parables to you,” he stated.
“There are greedy bastards in galamsey. NPP people are greedy bastards when it comes to galamsey,” he added.
Upon assuming office in 2017, the current government of the New Patriotic Party, led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, placed a significant emphasis on combating corruption.
A key component of their anti-corruption agenda during the campaign in opposition was the establishment of a Special Prosecutor’s Office dedicated to investigating and prosecuting individuals for corruption and related offenses.
However, the initial appointee to lead this office, Martin Amidu, a former Attorney-General, resigned in November 2020, citing alleged interference in his work by President Akufo-Addo. Despite the president’s denial of Amidu’s claims, Kissi Agyebeng, a private legal practitioner, was subsequently appointed to head the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
In a press conference held on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, Mr. Agyebeng expressed concerns about a concerning pattern of dismissive rulings in the corruption cases he was actively pursuing.
He went on to caution that such a trend could have severe consequences for Ghana’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts. This situation raises questions about the effectiveness and independence of the Special Prosecutor’s Office in the fight against corruption.
“Indeed I have had several calls from well-meaning lawyers admonishing me that they have heard talk that our friends who have been elevated to the bench and presiding over cases in court do not take very kindly to criticism, especially of the public calling out variety as we do.
“And that if the office persists in the media releases, the judges will gang up against the office and throw out all our cases. Mind you, members of the press, collective admonishing is from very senior and experienced lawyers who are members of the law.
“Members of the press, my learning of the law for the past 25 years in three different jurisdictions, my teaching and training of lawyers and law students for the past 17 years, my 20-year record at the bar all bear testimony that I will be the last person to lead an institution to attack the judiciary.
“It will be absolutely of no good should it be the case that the OSP is set against the judiciary or that the judiciary is against the OSP. That will surely spell disastrous consequences for this republic, especially in the fight against corruption to the glee of corrupt persons.”
Mr Agyebeng added, “I do not intend to sound as though I’m predicting doom but we are facing doom. With this development, it will not be long, before a suspected murderer or armed robber will boldly walk to court with the unthinkable prayer that the court should injunct law enforcement agencies from investigating him.”