Project Director of the Democracy Project and Fellow at CDD-Ghana, Dr. John Osae-Kwapong, has contended that impeaching Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng would erode public trust in anti-corruption endeavors.

He proposed employing alternative administrative measures to address the allegations against Mr. Agyebeng.

“To remove the Special Prosecutor from office, it has to be egregious enough but if there are other administrative remedies to address some of the allegations leveled against him, let’s use them rather than first resorting to his removal from office."

“It doesn’t set a good precedent for the fight against corruption and deepens the already eroding public confidence in the fight against corruption,” he said.

Dr. Osae-Kwapong voiced his perspective on Saturday during a discussion on a television program based in Accra.

The discussion arose following a petition filed by Mr. Martin Amidu, the former Special Prosecutor, urging for Mr. Agyebeng’s impeachment.

Mr. Amidu claimed in his petition to the President that the Special Prosecutor had violated certain provisions of his office, warranting his removal.

He accused Mr. Agyebeng of procurement breaches in the acquisition of vehicles for the Office of the Special Prosecutor, as well as the abuse of judges and the administration of justice. Additionally, he alleged violations of citizens’ rights through arrests and detentions, infringement upon citizens’ right to information, and irregular appointments of personnel to the office.

Dr. Osae-Kwapong questioned whether Mr. Amidu’s allegations provided adequate grounds for impeachment.

“…as I look at some of the basis, I keep asking myself, do these rise to the level of an impeachable offense for which he must be removed from office?” he quizzed.

A private legal practitioner and Head of Chambers at Clinton Consultancy, Madam Amanda Akuokor Clinton, asserted that, apart from the alleged procurement breaches, Mr. Amidu’s other arguments were insufficient to justify the impeachment of the Special Prosecutor.

“I think aside from the issue of procurement, Mr. Amidu’s other allegations do not stand. According to the Special Prosecution Act 2017, the Special prosecutor can be removed for misconduct, incompetence, or actions that bring the office into disrepute,” she said.

The lawyer also disagreed with allegations that Mr. Agyebeng abused judges, describing his comments about the judiciary as “measured” and simply an “academic assessment.”

She added that it would be “a slippery slope” to remove the Special Prosecutor based on such an accusation.

“His removal would mean politicisation of his office and every future person that goes into the OSP will be persecuted potentially in such a similar way, irrespective of whichever government it is,” she said.

Member of Parliament for Tamale North and Deputy Ranking Member of the Lands and Forestry Committee, Mr. Alhassan S. Suhuyini, expressed that Mr. Amidu’s petition aimed to judge Mr. Agyebeng by his own standards.

He deemed the call for the Special Prosecutor's removal unrealistic and advocated for addressing the issues through alternative means.