Make Special Prosecutor appointment competitive – GII to Akufo-Addo

The Corporate Affairs Manager of the Ghana Integrity Initiative Michael Boadi has called on President Akufo-Addo to make the appointment of the Special Prosecutor competitive.

This they believe, will help to recruit the most efficient person to serve in the planned anti-graft office.

President Akufo-Addo promised to establish the office of the special prosecutor while campaigning in the 2016 elections. The office, according to him, will fight corruption on an independent, objective and neutral basis.

But there are concerns over the relevance of the office since the Attorney general, per Ghana’s constitution, is the state’s chief attorney and has all the prosecutorial powers.

Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Tuesday, Mr. Boadi said the office of the special prosecutor may help the fight against corruption if the process towards selecting individuals to work there are transparent enough.

“If we want something new, then the processes should be new as well. We should give room to all who qualify and will like to take up the role of Special Prosecutor. Those who will apply for this role will have to go through the necessary processes. The appointment of the Special Prosecutor should be opened,” he said.

Also contributing to the discussion, legal practitioner Michael Kpebu urged the government to put together civil society groups to help with the selection of the Special Prosecutor.

“We must come as close as possible to transparency in this process. The selection should be done by the CSOs and have parliament do their bit. If we make this work, it will show that indeed Justice emanates from the people.

Getting an independent body on board, they are more likely to choose people who will be more neutral”.