Sack the Special Prosecutor – Ken Kuranchie petitions Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has been petitioned by the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Searchlight newspaper Kenneth Kwabena Agyei Kuranchie also known as Ken Kuranchie to relieve the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng from office. The petition is based on the Special Prosecutor Act, (Act 959) of 2017 which provides grounds for the removal of the Special Prosecutor.

According to the petitioner, Kiss Agyebeng has acted in ways that could undermine Ghana’s security or economy, one of the provisions for which he can be dismissed from office.

The petition dated October 18 has since received a response from the President’s office acknowledging receipt.

“Petitioner presents this petition for the removal of the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, on the authority of Section 15. (1) of the Special Prosecutor Act, (Act 959) of 2017. Section 15.(1) provides for the statutory methods by which the Special Prosecutor may be removed from office. It is titled ‘Removal of the Special Prosecutor’. The said section states; ‘The Special Prosecutor shall not be removed from office except for…’

“(a) stated misbehaviour or incompetence; (b) incapacity to perform the functions of the Office by reason of infirmity of body and mind; (c) willful violation of the Official Oath and Oath of Secrecy; (d) conduct which; (i) brings or is likely to bring the Office of the Special Prosecutor into disrepute, ridicule or contempt; or “(ii) is prejudicial or inimical to the economy or security of the State,” part of the petition read.

Ken Kuranchie also alleged that the Special Prosecutor conducted polygraph tests on about 80% of the staff of the OSP. He said the test was conducted by a foreign government entity, exposing Ghana to third parties.

“Petitioner states, first, that this work was not done by the N.I.B, and second, this work was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), an agency of the government of the United States of America, a foreign nation.”

He alleged that the actions by the Special Prosecutor breached his oath of secrecy and his official oath, adding that they hurt Ghana’s interests.

“Petitioner also states that these acts amount to willful violation of the Official Oath and Oath of Secrecy; and are prejudicial or inimical to the economy or security of the State,” Ken Kuranchie stated.

This is the second attempt by private citizens to have Kissi Agyebeng removed from Office. In April, Martin Amidu petitioned the President to remove the man who succeeded him. The matter was extensively discussed after the president referred the matter to the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo to determine if a prima facie is established against Kissi Agyebeng.

Ken Kuranchie aside from petitioning for Kissi Agyebeng’s removal also saw an earlier case at the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the OSP dismissed. He urged the Supreme Court to declare the OSP unconstitutional stating that it violated several articles of the 1992 constitution.