Support OSP efforts to combat corruption – Afenyo-Markin

The Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is rallying support for the Special Prosecutor in his efforts to combat corruption and related activities in the country.

The Effutu Member of Parliament (MP) emphasised that the success of the fight against corruption is dependent on Ghanaians’ collective support.

During his contribution to the parliamentary debate on Tuesday, December 12, on the approval of the budget for the Office of the Special Prosecutor for 2024, Mr Afenyo-Markin urged Kissi Agyebeng not to give up hope.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin further urged Mr Agyebeng not to be disheartened by the current challenges he faces whilst expressing confidence in Ghanaians’ trust in the Special Prosecutor.

“We need to support the Special Prosecutor. This is the first time a government has boldly walked a political talk from the manifesto into bringing an enactment to give it the life that it needs. Let’s encourage the Special Prosecutor to do his work. And Mr. Speaker, as a practitioner in our courts… I would want to encourage the Special Prosecutor never to give up.”

“I would want to encourage the office to strengthen itself with the limited resources that it gets, move through the court system, and get the court to appreciate its work.”

His comments follow the OSP’s recent statement of concern about the growing trend of dismissive rulings in suspected corruption cases, which it fears will impede the fight against corruption.

The Special Prosecutor, Mr Agyebeng, expressed concern to the media on Wednesday, November 29, about the “growing hasty dismissiveness and lack of regard” for suspected corruption cases.

This, he believes, will seriously impair his office’s ability to carry out its mandate.

Mr Agyebeng cited specific cases, including the acquittal of former government official Cecilia Dapaah in a suspected corruption case and the court’s refusal to freeze the estate of the late NPP General Secretary, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie.