The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has asserted that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) remains Ghana’s most effective instrument in the fight against corruption.
He made the statement during a high-level conference in Accra on Friday, 6th June, themed “Revitalising the Anti-Corruption Architecture in Africa: Ghana’s Accountability Journey.”
Mr Agyebeng underscored the distinctiveness of the OSP, describing it as a “unique and never-before-seen remedy” created specifically to address persistent failings in the country’s traditional anti-corruption systems.
“The OSP model represents our best bet in tackling corruption. It is a unique and never-before-seen remedy designed to cure the inadequacies of the traditional methods we have previously adopted,” he stated.
He explained that the OSP framework marks a significant shift from past approaches, offering a more robust and legally grounded structure.
Highlighting the office’s autonomy, Mr Agyebeng said the OSP is fully empowered to independently initiate and carry out investigations, unlike previous institutions that lacked such enforcement authority.
He added that the OSP has full control over initiating investigations and prosecuting criminal cases, ensuring transparency and fairness in its operations.
Significantly, he emphasised the OSP’s mandate to pursue cases involving both the public and private sectors, including politically exposed persons.
“For the first time in our history, the OSP model forcefully carries the fight against corruption not only in the province of public officers and public life, but also among politically exposed persons and persons in the private sector,” he said.