The Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) has disclosed that it is currently investigating over 120 cases where corruption is suspected.
In a half-year report issued in accordance with Section 3(3) of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), which requires the Office to publish cases it is investigating or prosecuting on a semi-annual basis, the OSP stated that the cases include the alleged bribery by Airbus SE, a European multinational aerospace corporation, in respect of the sale and purchase of military aircraft for the Republic of Ghana.
An investigation into the banking and financial sector crisis, as well as allegations of attempted bribery of Members of Parliament by an unnamed wealthy businessman, are among the other high-profile cases named.
Other cases under investigation include the alleged illegal acquisition of state-protected property.
Other cases under investigation include the alleged improper acquisition of state-protected land at the Achimota Forest enclave and the Sakumono Ramsar site by the deceased former Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, as well as an investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offenses in the recruitment exercise for Course 51 of Cadet Officers Training at the Ghana Police Academy.
“The Office is also investigating one hundred and twenty (120) other cases at various levels of consideration. These would be publicised if the Special Prosecutor determines that they are within the mandate of the Office and that they should be moved past the preliminary investigation stage.
“This is a policy intended to protect the privacy of individuals and the business operations of institutions and companies, and to avoid unnecessary stigmatization,” the report by the Special Prosecutor stated.
According to the Special Prosecutor’s report, Kissi Agyebeng, the Office has concluded an investigation into allegations of using public office for profit against Charles Bissue during his tenure as Secretary to the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), which arose from an investigative documentary titled Galamsey Fraud Part I, published by Tiger Eye P.I. and the investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The Special Prosecutor also revealed that it had completed investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences relating to a contract awarded by the Northern Development Authority to A&QS Consortium Limited for consultancy services under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), particularly in relation to the contract sum.
In addition, the Special Prosecutor or an authorised officer will issue directives and take further action on the completed cases in due course.
