President Akufo-Addo in a photograph with members of the board and government officials.
President Akufo-Addo has finally inaugurated the Governing Board of the Office of Special Prosecutor to tackle corruption in the country.
The nine-member board, which is yet to nominate its chair, includes the Special Prosecutor himself, Martin Amidu, Deputy Special Prosecutor, Cynthia Lamptey, representative of the Audit Service, Addae Wireko-Tawiah, representative of the Ghana Police Service, Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Maame Tiwaa Addo Danquah, representative of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), Charles Nana Antwi and a representative of the Financial Intelligence Centre, Kofi Boadi Boakye.
The rest include a representative of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Charles Ayamdoo, a representative of the Minister for National Security, Kwaku Domfeh and representative of Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, Linda Ofori-Kwafo.
With the inauguration of the board, the Special Prosecutor will now swing into action to tackle corruption cases.
President Akufo-Addo, who promised to address corruption, immediately tasked the board to do everything possible to assist the Special Prosecutor and his deputy to meet the expectation of Ghanaians in the fight against corruption in the public sector.
The President, however, advised the Office of Special Prosecutor not to persecute but prosecute public servants and government functionaries who engage in corrupt practices.
President Akufo-Addo noted that “the quality of personnel assembled is to give confidence that this very difficult assignment that is going to be undertaken in all seriousness will be done without fear or favor, ill-will or malice.”
President Akufo-Addo said that like the Council of State, the statute setting up the Office of Special Prosecutor prevents him from appointing the chairperson.
“You have to sit, after this meeting, either today or whenever it is convenient for you, and designate the chairperson to chair your organization. That is what the law requires. All I can hope for is that you will choose somebody who will facilitate the intercourse among yourselves,” he added.
The President, who wished them Godspeed, added that “make sure that the Minister of Finance implements your budget, and if necessary, find ways to mobilize additional resources for you to be able to do your work well.”
“I am hopeful that the work that you will do will inure to the enhancement of the public life of our country and ultimately to the benefit and welfare of the Ghanaian people.”
He expressed confidence in their ability to discharge their duties diligently to the satisfaction of the Ghanaian people.
On behalf of her colleagues, Linda Ofori Kwafo, Executive Director of Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), pledged to perform creditably in office and thank the president for reposing confidence in them.
She said they would abide by Section 6 (1) of the OSP Law (Act 959, 2017).
Statute
Section (5) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017, (Act 959) states that the Governing Body of the Office shall consist of the Special Prosecutor, Deputy Special Prosecutor, a representative of the Audit Service not below the rank of director nominated by the Auditor General, a representative of the Police Service not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police nominated by the Inspector General of Police, a representative of EOCO not below the rank of a director nominated by the Executive Director, a representative of the Financial Intelligence Centre not below the rank of a director nominated by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Financial Intelligence Centre, a representative of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (GHRAJ) not below the rank of a director nominated by the Commissioner.
Per the law, a person with expertise in intelligence and not below the rank of a director nominated by the Minister responsible for National Security and a female representing the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition must be part of the board.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent