Accra: Mr Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor, has announced that Ghana has developed a robust framework to effectively combat corruption in both the private and public sectors through the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Agyebeng reflected on the country's 68-year journey since gaining independence in 1957, highlighting that previous frameworks and institutions faced gaps which hindered a comprehensive approach to tackling corruption. Despite its challenges, he affirmed that the OSP serves as Ghana's ideal institutional response to investigating and prosecuting corruption-related offenses, as well as managing and recovering assets.
Mr Agyebeng made these remarks during the 2025 African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC) high-level conference held in Accra, themed 'Revitalising the Anti-Corruption Architecture in Africa: Ghana's Accountability Journey.' He emphasized that despite the passage of more laws, corruption persisted due to an imperfect anti-corruption architecture, and he urged for renewed political courage in the fight against corruption.
He pointed out limitations within existing bodies, such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), which can investigate but not prosecute, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), which is reliant on the Attorney-General for prosecuting politically exposed individuals. The OSP, however, offers a unique four-fold mandate ensuring political neutrality and non-selectiveness in the corruption fight.
The four-fold mandate covers investigating corruption cases, prosecuting offenders, asset recovery and management, and preventive measures against corruption. Mr Agyebeng acknowledged the model's shortcomings but viewed it as an opportunity to re-tool and reshape it during the current constitutional review process.
He identified challenges such as laws lagging behind criminal innovation, difficulty engaging wealthy individuals in corrupt practices, and reliance on 'after-the-fact models.' He advocated for a robust system designed to withstand challenges over time and called for integrating integrity into the educational system from a young age.
Madam Yvonne Mutepuka Chibiya, AUABC Board Member, praised Ghana for its efforts in strengthening domestic anti-corruption measures, specifically the establishment of the OSP and the passage of the Right to Information Act. She commended Ghana for ratifying the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) and pledged AUABC's support to further enhance Ghana's anti-corruption architecture.
