Kissi Agyebeng not fit for SP job – Inusah Fuseini

Former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central constituency, Inusah Fuseini has said the decision by the Akufo-Addo administration to appoint Kissi Agyebeng to the office of Special Prosecutor is a wrong move.

The Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, nominated the law lecturer and private legal practitioner as the replacement for Martin Amidu, who resigned from the position in November 2020.

In a letter to the Presidency, the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, said he was satisfied that “Kissi Agyebeng possesses the requisite expertise on corruption and corruption-related matters, is of high moral character and proven integrity and satisfies all the other requirements stipulated in section 13(1) and (2) of Act 959,” hence he is the right person to occupy the vacant position.

The former lawmaker in an interview with TV3 said Kissi Agyebeng is too young to occupy such a demanding position.

“I was taken aback because the office is very demanding. The office has associated risks and there is huge expectation in the office. There is a convention that said such offices require mature minds. If you look at Amidu with soo many years at the bar, former Attorney general even he had to fight interference” he said.

The nomination

Section 13 (1) and (2) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) provides the criteria one must meet before becoming the SP.

These include owing allegiance only to Ghana, at least 12 years good standing as a lawyer, be of high moral character and proven integrity, not convicted of any high crime, fraud or dishonesty and possessing the relevant expertise on corruption and corruption-related matters.

Per Section 13 (3) of Act 959, the Attorney-General (A-G) nominates the SP, but it must be accepted by the President. The nomination is subject to the approval of majority of all members of Parliament.

The SP serves for a non-renewable term of seven years and enjoys the same conditions of service as a Justice of the Court of Appeal.