Anti-Corruption campaigner and Programmes Manager of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Mary Awelana Addah, has lamented the insufficient funding of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
According to her, Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, must have the basic requirements needed for him to ensure that his mandate is achieved. She indicated that the fulfilment of his mandate requires a lot of money which government must make available.
Mrs Addah described as unfortunate the statement by the Attorney General that “his office has not been resourced as that of the OSP”. That notwithstanding, she noted that government must do its best to ensure that required funding is given to fight corruption.
“Let me quickly say that the statement of the Attorney General, as to whether advocacy and the real concerns we raised about the funding issues, remain relevant. Whether they are malicious or ill-informed, the fact remains that the new office which needs resources to operate has not been resourced enough… So, if he says he needs the money and government continues to indicate to the people of Ghana that one of the priorities is to fight corruption, then it is not too much when we call that resources should be given.”
Mary Awelana Addah
Commenting on the inauguration of the Board of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Mrs Addah expressed excitement and noted that advocacy over the past few weeks have yielded fruits. She highlighted that whether the inauguration was “done by the President or the Attorney General doesn’t change the situation”, so long as the board has its “marching orders to ensure that the Office of the Special Prosecutor” is working and functioning at its best.
Prioritize funding of OSP
The Anti-Corruption campaigner stated that government must give priority to the Office of the Special Prosecutor. Citing the free SHS policy, she indicated that the President “moved everything [and] left no stone unturned” to ensure its implementation despite criticisms of the “unrealistic nature of that project”.
“So, corruption or fighting same is important for setting up an office. To ensure that we do so, then we should be seen to be manifestly exhibiting the characteristics of the free SHS implementation into the fight of corruption by resourcing this office.”
Mary Awelana Addah
Speaking at the inauguration, the Attorney General, Godfred Dame urged the Special Prosecutor, to utilise five legal mechanisms in his establishing law in investigating, prosecuting and recovering proceeds of corruption. He opined that a “proper exercise of these powers”, will ensure that the Office becomes a potent instrument of the State in its effort to root out corruption.
“The phenomenon of the creation of shell companies for the laundering and concealment of the proceeds of crime will be drastically reduced by the exercise of your powers under Act 959 just alluded to.”
Godfred Dame
The nine-member Board is charged with advising the Special Prosecutor on policy issues and aiding the office in the fight against corruption and corruption-related offenses.
The Special Prosecutor, in a brief remark after the inauguration, acknowledged the difficulty he and his Deputy had working without a Board since assuming office. He however promised, with the aid of the Board, to “work assiduously and in a harmonious fashion to attain the objects of the office”.
READ ALSO: NEDS to Generate $25 Billion by 2029- Mr. Herbert Krapa
