The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, yesterday swore in a nine-member Board for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The OSP had been without a board since Kissi Agyebeng was sworn into office nine months ago.
The absence of the board members had been an issue of concern for many civil society organisations who had lamented the lack of a substantive board and the impact on the operations of the Special Prosecutor.
Mr Dame said the establishment of the OSP, which has been mandated to prosecute corruption and corruption-related offences in a manner devoid of the perception of possible executive interference, deserves the real support of the public, and not unconstructive and defeatist criticism.
Board members
According to sections 5 and 6 of the Office of Special Prosecutor Act 2017, Act 959, a Board is required to formulate policies for the objective of the Office, ensure proper and effective performance of the functions of the Office, advise the Special Prosecutor on the recruitment and selection of various staff among other duties.
The Board is made up of the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng; the Deputy Special Prosecutor, Cynthia Jane N. Lamptey; a representative of Audit Service, Lawrence Ndaago Ayagiba; a representative of Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police (COP) Wilfred Boahen Frimpong; a representative of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Aba Jacqueline Opoku and a representative of Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Kofi Boadi A. Boakye.
The others are a representative of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Stephen Azantilow; a representative of Anti-Corruption Civil Society, Linda Ofori-Kwafo; and a representative of Ministry of National Security, COP George Tuffour (Rtd).
COP George Tuffuor was absent at yesterday’s swearing in ceremony.
The Board, in addition to its general responsibility for formulating policies necessary for the achievement of the object of the Office, is required to ensure the proper and effective performance of the functions of the Office, advise the Special Prosecutor on the recruitment and selection of senior staff of the office and facilitate cooperation between the office and relevant national investigative bodies.
The previous board members included the then CID boss, DCOP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah; EOCO representative, Charles Nana Antwi; representatives from civil society, Linda Ofori Kwafo; Addai Wereko Tawiah; Kofi Wiredu Boakye, Charles Ayamadu and Kwaku Domfeh.