People are bringing their family heads, uncles and chiefs to OSP – Kissi Agyebeng

The Special Prosecutor, Mr Kissi Agyebeng has said some of the petitions he has received since he assume the position in August this year are family related.

 “People are bringing in their family heads, people are bringing their uncles, their chiefs and all that,” he said.

He made the revelation in an interview on Starr Chat aired on Starr FM on Wednesday, September 29, monitored by GhanaPlus.com.

Mr Agyebeng also revealed unlike previous petitions which were more public sector focused, recent petitions tilt more towards the private sector.

He opined the development could only mean Ghanaians were beginning to appreciate and understand the mandate of the Special Prosecutor’s Office adding that their mandate covers everybody in the country including, public officials, politicians and the private sector as long as there was a smirk of corruption or corruption related offences.

“One of the functions of the OSP is to educate the public on what we do with respect to corruption and corruption related crime. Is not just about public officials”.

“Our mandate is in respect of public officials, politically exposed persons and everybody in Ghana falls under our mandate in respect of corruption and corruption related offences and so some petitioners have gotten it but I can tell from the nature of the conversation going on in the country that we are all fixated on the public officials as if those in the private sector are corrupt free but the framers of the act and the LI supporting the act saw it wise to open it up to cover everybody including the private sector” .

“So the nature of the cases that were there previously did not really hit the private sector but the nature of the cases that are coming now and in respect of the petitions that we have received so far from August, some public sector and a lot of private sector,” he said.

Kissi Agyebeng is Ghana’s new Special Prosecutor

Mr Kissi Agyebeng , a private legal practitioner was appointed by the President and subsequently approved by Parliament to head Ghana’s anti corruption office, Office of the Special Prosecutor following the resignation of Mr Martin Amidu the first occupant of the office.

The 43year-old is tasked with the responsibility to investigate and prosecute specific cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences, recover the proceeds of corruption and corruption-related offences, and take steps to prevent corruption.

Kissi Agyebeng is expected to serve the office in the next 7years.

Source: GhanaPlus.com