The credibility and competence of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) have come under searing attack, with NDC political commentator and lawyer Hamza Suhuyini launching an extraordinary broadside, labeling Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng and his Director of Strategy, Research, and Communications, Sammy Darko, as mere “politicians dressed in legal attire.”
Suhuyini asserted that the OSP leadership constitutes a “major stumbling block” to Ghana’s anti-corruption fight, systematically employing deflection tactics and sensational claims to skirt accountability.
”From day one I have been consistent that the issues we are discussing are twofold – The credibility and integrity of the special prosecutor’s office and its officeholders and the relevance of that particular office. There are so many things happening that we are taking for granted”
Hamza Suhuyini, NDC Communications Team Member
Suhuyini’s critique focused on a consistent pattern of highly publicized actions by the OSP that he argued were strategically timed to avert public scrutiny of the office’s own integrity and effectiveness. He maintained that the constant shift in focus prevents genuine discussion on the “nitty-gritties of accountability” relating to the OSP’s relevance and performance.
According to Suhuyini, the OSP leadership has perfected the art of throwing out “bait” – shocking announcements or major cases – whenever pressure mounts on the office. He illustrated this strategy using several high-profile incidents involving major economic and political figures.
He recalled the instance when questions arose over the OSP’s handling of the proposed extradition of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. Specifically, when the Deputy Attorney-General raised legitimate inquiries about the extradition docket, the OSP had initially stated the docket was incomplete.
Yet, the OSP had already formally written to the Chief of Staff requesting government intervention to facilitate the repatriation of the individual.
“So on what basis did you make that request for government intervention to bring him – When you were not done with your docket, that could inform such an extradition?” Suhuyini questioned.
Suhuyini argued that instead of addressing this inconsistency, the OSP quickly released the SML contract report just two days later. He claimed this was a calculated move to once again “deflect attention,” and get the public hooked onto a new, major headline, thereby escaping scrutiny over the incomplete docket and procedural anomaly.
From Kpebu to Uncorroborated Claims
The deflection strategy, Suhuyini claimed, escalated when Senior Counsel Martin Kpebu raised serious issues of misconduct and accountability and publicly indicated he was preparing a petition for the Special Prosecutor’s removal.
Suhuyini argued that as pressure intensified and demands for accountability became the order of the day, the OSP quickly retaliated with another “bait”: announcing over 71 charges against Ken Ofori-Atta to once again shift the media narrative.
This cycle of distraction reached a fever pitch following the OSP’s controversial handling of Martin Kpebu’s allegations. Suhuyini condemned the OSP’s decision to invite Kpebu to bring evidence to the office, effectively electing itself to investigate allegations of misconduct against the Special Prosecutor himself.
“When have you ever heard that in law? And as if that was not enough, he proceeded to attempt to detain him,” Suhuyini argued, citing a clear violation of natural justice principles.
When pressure mounted further over the attempted detention and the illegality of investigating oneself, Sammy Darko suddenly appeared in the media, throwing out the shocking, yet uncorroborated, claims of being handcuffed and beaten by seventeen police officers and that the Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng had survived two assassination attempts.
“These guys are politicians in legal attire and on a daily basis, they are debasing the foundations of our collective objective to fight corruption”
Hamza Suhuyini, NDC Communications Team Member
Suhuyini expressed open skepticism regarding the details of the claims, pointing to the specificity of counting exactly seventeen policemen during an alleged beating.
He maintained that the claims of assault and threats, which he said “cannot be corroborated,” were the latest and most dramatic attempt by the OSP leadership to “deflect attention,” from the core issues of their integrity, credibility, and operational effectiveness.
Suhuyini ultimately concluded that the actions and posture of Mr. Agyebeng and Mr. Darko betray the high mandate of the office.
By constantly engaging in political maneuvering, they constitute a major stumbling block, hindering Ghana’s collective objective to establish genuine accountability and effectively fight corruption.
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