Parliament vets Deputy Special Prosecutor

The Appointments Committee of Parliament will vet the nominee for the Deputy Special Prosecutor, Jane Cynthia Naa Koshie Lamptey, tomorrow.

Her nomination by President Nana Akufo-Addo was announced in parliament on April 26 by the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, when parliament was recalled for an emergency sitting to ratify the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Jane Cynthia Naa Korshie Lamptey will assist Martin Alamisi Amidu at the Special Prosecutor’s Office created by the president in accordance with the Special Prosecutor Law, 2017 passed by parliament to help fight corruption in the country.

The nominee, who has been a lawyer for more than 30 years, is the former acting Director of Public Prosecutions at the Attorney General’s Department.

“Lawyer of 30 years standing at the Ghana Bar…and thereby seeks the approval of Ms Lamptey as Deputy Special Prosecutor of Parliament,” a letter read by the speaker confirming her appointment, indicated.

The vetting is expected to be broadcast live on major TV networks, including GTV and TV3.

Members of the Appointments Committee, chaired by First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joseph Osei-Owusu, are expected to grill her on the work of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

It’s unclear if her vetting will last the same period as Mr. Martin Amidu’s – who was grilled for over seven hours.

Mr Amidu is currently in Nigeria attending a high-level international conference on ways to recover assets arising out of corruption under the theme, “Partnering towards asset recovery and its return.”

The conference is being organized for Heads of Commonwealth Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa to strategize on how to trace all proceeds of corruption by public officials in Commonwealth Africa.

It’s unclear if the Special Prosecutor, Mr Amidu, would be in parliament to give his deputy-designate morale support.