Special Prosecutor to conclude investigations into former PPA boss, two other cases soon

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) says it is investigating 45 cases of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences.

The OSP, in an official statement shared with the Ghana News Agency, said it would, however, announce its conclusions and further actions on three cases that it was pursuing in the next few weeks.

The cases include Mr Adjenim Boateng Adjei, a former Chief Executive of the Public Procurement Authority, who is being investigated over alleged corruption in the context of public procurement and abuse of office.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in October 2020, terminated the appointment of Mr Boateng Adjei as recommended by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

CHRAJ, in its investigations into alleged abuse of office by the former PPA boss as alleged in a publication by freelance journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, titled: “Contracts for Sale” found that Mr Adjei “had put himself in a position where his personal interests conflicted with the performance of his functions as CEO and Board Member of the PPA.”

The President subsequently referred the part of the allegations made against Mr Adjei relating to potential acts of corruption to the OSP for action.

The OSP said it would soon conclude its investigations in another case involving Mr Alexander Kwabena Sarfo-Kantanka, alleged to have engaged in corruption and intimidation in respect of a public election.

The OSP in November 2021 opened investigations into an allegation of corruption and corruption-related offences against Mr Sarfo-Kantanka following a viral video, which suggested that the MCE nominee was accusing Assembly Members in Juaben of “pocketing his money” and refusing to confirm his nomination by the President.

The OSP said it was also investigating a corruption-related case involving LaBianca Company Limited in the context of evasion and valuation of duties on frozen and processed food products imported into Ghana between 2017 to 2021.

The alleged offence, the OSP said involved some high-ranking officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), which came into force on 2 January 2018, established the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

The OSP exist as an independent anti-corruption agency, with the mandate of investigating and prosecuting specific cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in the public and private sectors.

It also has the duty to recover the proceeds of such acts by disgorging illicit and unexplained wealth and taking steps to prevent corruption.