Anti-corruption fight going nowhere without institutional independence – Kissi Agyebeng

Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has warned that Ghana's fight against corruption will remain ineffective unless anti-corruption institutions are granted stronger constitutional and financial independence. He emphasized that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), regardless of its future form or name, must be enshrined in the Constitution to safeguard its independence.

During the second National Anti-Corruption Dialogue in Accra, Agyebeng acknowledged the government's commitment to combating corruption, but stressed that political will alone would not suffice for lasting results. He pointed out that current statutory and financial arrangements governing anti-corruption bodies are major hurdles to their effectiveness.

Agyebeng argued that the OSP must be removed from financial constraints to ensure its operations are not undermined. He also mentioned that proposals for a dedicated funding arrangement for anti-corruption institutions were already in place and under consideration by Parliament. The Special Prosecutor revealed that these reforms formed part of a broader effort to review Ghana's anti-corruption framework, noting that his office and the presidential team had studied systems in other countries to identify effective structures for Ghana.

He stressed that without reforms to both the legal framework and the financing of anti-corruption institutions, efforts to combat corruption would be limited, despite the government's intentions.