Special Prosecutor to appear before Parliament over Martin Kpebu’s detention

Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng is set to appear before Parliament following accusations from the Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor over an alleged abuse of office in the recent detention of private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu.

On Wednesday, December 3, Martin Kpebu was taken into custody on accusations of obstructing officials of the OSP. Majority Chief Whip Dafeamekpor however insisted that the Office must provide a valid explanation for its actions.

“The Office of the Special Prosecutor has abused his powers in this matter and I will not hesitate to say that this House, we created the Office and if he continues to abuse its powers, then we may have to abrogate it

“Let me place on record that this House, we shall be inviting him (the OSP) to come and brief the House on the circumstances under which he would detain a citizen under such flimsy, whimsical circumstances. It is untenable, and yesterday his conduct was frowned upon by the entire nation,” he told Parliament on Thursday.

Registering his disapproval, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga also supported calls for the scrapping of the OSP, expressing his long-held belief that the office lacked constitutional legitimacy.

“The detention of Martin Kpebu raises serious issues about the existence of that Office. I opposed its creation and took the position that it was unconstitutional…I think that we should abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor. We have experimented with it and seen the results,” he said.

Martin Kpebu, who has been vocal in criticizing the OSP’s approach to high-profile investigations including its investigation into former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, was detained after what the OSP described as an obstruction-related altercation with one of its officers.

He had been summoned to assist in investigations concerning corruption allegations he previously leveled against the Special Prosecutor, but was granted bail and later released on Wednesday evening.

The arrest has prompted widespread condemnation from various public figures, including former Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Oquaye, who criticized the OSP’s handling of the matter.