Parliament has unanimously given their approval to Kissi Agyebeng as Special Prosecutor.
Speaking on the floor of the House, First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, revealed that the motion for his approval has been “adopted”.
Kissi Agyebeng’s approval as the Special Prosecutor follows a report from Parliament’s Appointment Committee recommending him for the position.
“The committee has duly recommended the nomination of the President for the appointment of the Special Prosecutor in line with the Section 13 (3) and (8) of the Special Prosecutor Act 2017 and the standing orders of parliament and recommends the nominee Mr Kissi Agyebeng to the House for approval.”
Joseph Osei Owusu
Once he is sworn in by President Akufo-Addo, the 43-year-old succeeds Martin Amidu who was the country’s first Special Prosecutor.
The Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, in April this year nominated Mr Agyebeng for the position of Special Prosecutor. His nomination followed the resignation of Martin Amidu from office on November 16, 2020.
Kissi Agyebeng appeared before Parliament’s Appointment’s Committee on July 22 for vetting. Following this, the Committee further recommended him to the House for approval after a three-hour vetting.
The first deputy Speaker, speaking on his approval revealed that he met all the requirements that “we were looking for in a nominee for the Office of the Special Prosecutor”.
“So, the [Appointments] Committee unanimously agreed to recommend him to the House for approval”.
Joseph Osei Owusu
Age is not a factor
Following the nomination of Mr. Agyebeng as Special Prosecutor to replace Martin Amidu, some questioned the nominee’s ability to tackle the corruption fight given his age.
Nonetheless, Dr. Poku Adusei, a legal Practitioner slammed those assertions by indicating that, Mr. Agyebeng possesses the requisite competencies and expertise for the role.
Dr. Poku Adusei further explained that it is absurd for anyone to think that the Special Prosecutor nominee’s age will in anyway derail prosecutorial duties.
“If you look at the law that appoints the Special Prosecutor, I wonder why people think that someone who has 17 years until retirement, in the normal scheme of public service is young. I mean we have taken age issues to absurd levels”.
Dr. Poku Adusei
Additionally, the legal practitioner further insisted that “when we give young people the opportunity to serve, they will serve”. As such, Kissi Agyabeng is qualified to serve as he is constitutionally even qualified to serve as a President of the country.
“So what are they talking about that he is young? So let’s put those things aside and give the man an opportunity to serve”.
Dr. Poku Adusei
Profile of the newly approved Special Prosecutor
Kissi Agyebeng was called to the Ghana Bar in October 2003 and holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Ghana. Similarly, he holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Canada, and Cornell Law School, USA.
Since 2006, he has been teaching Criminal Law at the University of Ghana, whilst engaging in private law practice.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor, which he has been approved to occupy has the mandate to investigate and prosecute all suspected corruption and corruption-related offenses as pertaining to public officers, politically exposed persons, and persons in the private sector alleged to have been involved in any corruption and corruption-related offenses.
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