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Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng has called for a shift in focus from reactive measures to proactive strategies in the fight against corruption.
Speaking at the Constitution Day Public Lecture in Accra on Friday, February 28, Mr Agyebeng, emphasised that preventing corruption is far more effective than simply chasing it after it has already occurred.
“I said forcefully that, from my experience, what we have done so far, we believe that preventing corruption is a better focus than running after it after the fact,” Mr Agyabeng remarked, pointing out that corruption prevention should be the ultimate goal in the national anti-corruption efforts.
Drawing a parallel between prevention and remedy, he added, “I remember saying that better it is to prevent the outbreak of a stitch than to go seeking to stitch it after it ensues.”
Mr Agyabeng also responded to repeated questions about the number of convictions the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has secured.
While some have expressed dissatisfaction with the office’s progress in prosecuting offenders, Mr Agyabeng stressed the limitations imposed by the country’s legal system.
“On so many occasions, we are asked how many people have you imprisoned and all that. But if we manage to imprison four or five people in a year, I’m being optimistic, given the way our legal system is arranged,” he explained.
While acknowledging the challenges, he drew attention to the more substantial impact of preventative measures.
"What would we have achieved in terms of contrasting it with if we manage to prevent them from committing what they committed in the first place?” Mr Agyabeng asked, emphasizing that the long-term success of the OSP lies not in the number of arrests made but in its ability to curb corruption before it takes root.

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