Government deliberately frustrating Kissi Agyebeng to resign – Bernard Ahiafor

The Ranking Member on the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament has alleged that the government is deliberately obstructing Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng to compel his resignation.

During the parliamentary review of the Special Prosecutor’s budget, Bernard Ahiafor asserted that the recent expressions of frustration by the Special Prosecutor indicate a lack of support from various institutions.

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He urged collective support for the Special Prosecutor, emphasizing that without assistance from other anti-graft offices, the OSP’s effectiveness would be compromised.

“All institutions must come together to support the office of the special prosecutor. I believe stronglybecause the office of the special prosecutor is not getting institutional support. He had to do a press conference that he’s anko anoma, ode ne kora abo afore3, he’s walking alone, he’s sacrificing his life.

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“If you listen to him, you can come to a conclusion that this is a statement made out of frustration. Mr. Speaker do we want a young man, 43 years, removed from the lecture theatre and the court room, appointed as the special prosecutor to also resign as a result of frustration?

“I believe that the first special prosecutor appointed similarly resigned and after resignation indicated that the president of the republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo is a mother serpent of corruption. Corruption affects everybody therefore the office of the special prosecutor needed all institutions to support him in order to support his function creditably,” he said.

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In response, Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful countered these claims, stating that the limited release of budget funds to the office does not imply an attempt to undermine the OSP.

She argued that many Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) face resource constraints, receiving less than the requested amounts, and questioned the Ranking Member’s suggestion that reduced budget allocation signaled a lack of commitment to fighting corruption.

Earlier, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin expressed skepticism about the efficacy of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, deeming its establishment futile. Bagbin suggested that the government should have separated the Attorney General’s Department from the Ministry of Justice. Ultimately, Parliament approved a budget of 149 million cedis for the Office of the Special Prosecutor for the year 2024.