Kissi Agyebeng: I’ll work with investigative journalists to make corruption a costly trade

The Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has said he will use investigative journalists as one of his tools to nip corruption in the bud in Ghana.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is tasked with investigating specific cases of alleged or suspected corruption or corruption-related offences involving public officers and persons who have been entrusted with prominent public functions in Ghana or a foreign country or an international organisation.

Agyebeng said he will make corruption unattractive to public officials in Ghana.

“I am working and will work with investigative journalists as one of my tools to make corruption a costly trade in Ghana,” Agyebeng said when journalist Manasseh Awuni Azure presented copies of his book on investigative journalism to him on Monday (20 March).

The OSP is currently investigating over 120 corruption and corruption-related cases, a half-year report from the office released in January said.

The report said the cases are “at various levels of consideration,” adding that details will be “publicised if the Special Prosecutor determines that they are within the mandate of the office and that they should be moved past the preliminary investigation stage.”
High profile cases

The report also revealed that investigation is still ongoing in the alleged bribery by Airbus SE, a European multinational aerospace corporation, in respect of the sale and purchase of military aircraft for Ghana, the banking and financial sector crisis, and allegations of attempted bribery of MPs by an unnamed wealthy businessman.

The OSP is also investigating the alleged improper acquisition of state-protected land at the Achimota Forest enclave and the Sakumono Ramsar site by the late chief executive of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie alias ‘Sir John’ and an investigation in respect of suspected corruption and corruption–related offences in the recruitment exercise into the Ghana Police Service. Asaase Radio