Appoint SP through public application process – Short

Former head of the Commission on Human Rights and Administration Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Emile Short, is advocating for the appointment of the Special Prosecutor to be done through an application process open to the public.

Mr Short believes such a system will be more transparent and devoid of any biases which could be associated in getting an individual to fill the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

On Tuesday, 2 January 2018, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assented to the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act passed by Parliament last year.

The next process is the appointment of the official and Mr Short insists the best way is to allow the public to apply and shortlisted candidates presented to the president for selection of the first Special Prosecutor.

“This position should be advertised so that people can apply and then you set up a committee to interview the applicants and then maybe you shortlist about three names, give these names to the President and the President appoints one of those three,” he told Accra-based Joy FM in an interview.

He believes such a method will instil greater confidence in the office.