General News of Thursday, 12 July 2018

Source: kasapafmonline.com

Assist Special Prosecutor in corruption fight – Akufo-Addo to OSP Board

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has charged the newly sworn in Governing body of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to do all within their power to assist the Special Prosecutor and his Deputy in carrying out their statutory mandate that Ghanaians expect of the office.

Addressing the nine-member governing body of the Office of the Special Prosecutor after administering the official oath and the oath of secrecy, President Akufo-Addo said even though it has taken a bit of time to fully constitute the entire Office of the Special Prosecutor to make it functional, it is better late than never.

The President indicated that the responsibilities placed on the OSP to ensure that the public life of Ghana is sanitized cannot be overemphasized.

He said he has confidence in the group of people who have been assembled to constitute the board, assuring that he’ll assist them with all his support to get their budget implemented soon.

Response By Representative of OSP Board

In a response on behalf of the OSP governing body, Linda Ofori Kwafo said she and her colleagues will do all within their power to abide by the provisions of section 6(1) of the OSP Act 2017, (Act 959) as they go about performing their duties.

She pledged that the board is looking forward to discharging their functions to ensure that corruption is minimized in Ghana.

Statutory Provision For Constituting OSP Board

Section five (5) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017, (Act 959) provides that the Governing Body of the Office is a Board consisting of the Special Prosecutor, Deputy Special Prosecutor, one Representative of the Audit Service not below the rank of a Director nominated by the Auditor General, one Representative of the Police Service not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police nominated by the Inspector General of Police, one Representative of the Economic and Organized Crime Office not below the rank of a Director nominated by the Executive Director, one Representative of the Financial Intelligence Centre not below the rank of a Director nominated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Intelligence Centre, one Representative of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice not below the rank of a Director nominated by the Commissioner of Human Rights and Administrative Justice.

The others are one person with background in intelligence and not below the rank of a Director nominated by the Minister responsible for National Security and one person who is a female representing the Anti Corruption Civil Society Organizations.

Members of the OSP Governing Body

The Governing Body of the OSP included the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, the Deputy Special Prosecutor, Cynthia Lamptey, Representative of the Audit Service , Addae Wireko-Tawiah, Representative of the Police Service, Director of Police CID, Maame Tiwaa Addo Danquah, Representative of the Economic and Organized Crime Office, Charles Nana Antwi, Representative of the Financial Intelligence Centre, Kofi Boadi Boakye, Representative of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative, Charles Ayamdoo.

The others are the nominee of the Minister responsible for National Security, Kwaku Domfeh and the female representative of the Anti Corruption Civil Society Organizations, Linda Ofori-Kwafo.