Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has called for the formal inclusion of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in Ghana’s constitution to ensure its longevity and independence beyond any individual’s tenure.

Speaking at the UPSA Law School and One Ghana Movement Constitution Day Public Lecture, he emphasized the need for structural reforms to strengthen the fight against corruption.

"First, we must write the Office of the Special Prosecutor into the constitution and board it up firmly. Do not dwell on me. Leave me out of the equation. I am just one person – obviously. My tenure will end at some point, and like everyone else, I will leave the scene,” he stated.

Agyebeng warned against associating the work of the OSP with his personal efforts, stressing that the fight against corruption must be institutionalized for sustainability.

Beyond constitutional entrenchment, he proposed the enactment of a Corrupt Practices Act to clearly define corruption-related offenses and eliminate ambiguities that hinder effective prosecution. He criticized the current legal framework, describing it as unnecessarily complex.

“The present formulation under section 79 of Act 959 is unhelpful and circuitous. It engenders confusion. It is symptomatic of our penchant for crafting criminal legislation in an arcane and roundabout fashion instead of simply stating what we mean to say,” he remarked.

To enhance the efficiency of corruption trials, the Special Prosecutor recommended the establishment of specialized anti-corruption courts with judges specifically trained to handle such cases.

"Third, we must set up specialised anti-corruption courts manned by especially trained judges in the field to swiftly and efficiently deal with corruption cases,” he noted, adding that swift justice would serve as a deterrent to corrupt practices.

Agyebeng also stressed the need to tackle unexplained wealth, not just among public officials but also within the private sector. He advocated for rigorous lifestyle audits and greater transparency in political party financing.

“On this score, we must forcefully address unexplained wealth not only among public officers but also private persons, with biting lifestyle auditing. Then again, we must highlight the vexed question of the opacity attending political party financing and the monetisation of public elections,” he urged.

He further suggested incorporating anti-corruption education into Ghana’s basic and secondary school curricula to instill a culture of integrity from an early age.

“All I am saying is this – we must channel our anti-corruption laws as a construct for national development,” he concluded.