Corrupt Officials in Trouble – As Akufo-Addo Outdoors OSP Board

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, yesterday performed the final ritual towards the full take-off of the Office of Special Prosecutor, when he swore-in the Governing Board of the Office.

Describing it as the final act in the establishment, Nana Addo said: “The Office is fully functional, according to law.”

is a new institution in the law enforcement architecture of our country, as well as in the architecture of our anti-corruption institutional framework. But, it is extremely important that the commitment that was made that this would be an Office independent of the Executive, that is the charge that you are required to keep,” the President said.

President Akufo-Addo noted that the quality of personnel assembled to compose the board was such as to give the needed confidence to undertake the job in all seriousness and without fear or favor, ill will or malice.

“Your own composition tells you that you are also to be the body that ensures the co-operation of the law enforcement agencies of this country. The Attorney

General is represented here, the Police Service is represented here, and we have high level representatives of the other institutions of the law enforcement world of Ghana. So, it is therefore, mandatory not only to guard the independence of the Office, but also to ensure the co-operation of the law enforcement agencies with the Office of the Special Prosecutor”, He continued.

He further noted that the statute setting up the Office was insistent that the he (President) was not the person that to appoint the Chairperson.

“You have to sit, after this meeting, either today or whenever it is convenient for you, and designate the person 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 amongst yourselves,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo assured the Board of his support in making sure that “Minister of Finance implements your budget, and, if necessary, finds ways to mobilize additional resources for you to be able to do your work well.”

He wished them Godspeed in the discharge of their duties and was hopeful that their work would inure to the enhancement of the public life of the Ghanaian people.

The Board is composed of Mr. Martin Amidu, Special Prosecutor; Cynthia Lamptey, Deputy Special Prosecutor; Charles Nana Antwi, Representative of EOCO; DCOP Tiwaa Addo Danquah, Representative of the Police Service; Linda Ofori Kwarfo, Representative of the Anti-Corruption Coalition; Kofi Boadu Boakye, Representative of the Financial Intelligence Centre; Charles Ayimadu, Representative of CHRAJ, Kwaku Domfe, Representative of National Security; and Mr. Addae Wereko, Representative of the Auditor General’s Department.