Jean Mensa and Kissi AgyebengÂ
Ten petitions filed against the Special Prosecutor (SP), Kissi Agyebeng, and the Electoral Commission (EC) Chair, Jean Mensa, along with her two deputies, have been forwarded to the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, for review, the Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has stated.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra yesterday, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu explained that President John Dramani Mahama’s role in the process ends once the petitions are transmitted to the Chief Justice.
He stressed that the Office of the President cannot comment further until the Chief Justice determines whether the petitions meet the threshold for a prima facie case.
“Unlike petitions against the Chief Justice, the President’s mandate regarding those filed against the Special Prosecutor and the Electoral Commissioner and her two deputies ends with conveying the petitions to the appropriate office, which in this instance is the Chief Justice. That was done a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
“A total of ten petitions were received: seven against the Electoral Commissioner and her two deputies, and three against the Special Prosecutor. The President has no role beyond that, and in that regard, we cannot comment. The Chief Justice’s office may be in a better position to provide updates. The President will once again be called to act when the Chief Justice has determined a prima facie case,” he added.
According to the Minister, seven of the petitions target the EC leadership, while three concern the Special Prosecutor.
The petitions, submitted by various individuals and groups, allege misconduct. Complaints against the EC leadership focus on accountability and management issues, while those against the Special Prosecutor cite claims of incompetence and abuse of office.
Under Section 16 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), any petition seeking the removal of the SP must follow a defined legal process.
The President is required to forward such petitions to the Chief Justice within seven days, who then has 30 days to determine whether a prima facie case exists. If a case is established, a three-member committee is appointed to investigate the allegations and submit its recommendations to the President for action.
Kissi Agyebeng has served as Special Prosecutor since 2021, succeeding Martin Amidu. His tenure has drawn mixed reactions, with supporters praising the Office of the Special Prosecutor for promoting accountability, while critics argue it has, at times, fallen short.
By Ernest Kofi Adu