Ghost Employees and Backroom Deals at the Office of Special Prosecutor
Is Ghana’s Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, a puppet on a string? That’s the explosive question on the lips of many as a shadowy figure, known only as “Santa Baron,” (real name; Kwabena Aidoo) emerges from the woodwork.
This minted and politically connected man, who resides in Accra’s plush Roman Ridge, is said to be Agyebeng’s powerful godfather; the very man who pulled the strings to get him the top job after Martin Amidu packed his bags in 2020.
The OSP, meant to be a fortress of integrity, is allegedly a ghost house of questionable appointments and backroom deals. Sources say Agyebeng holds official meetings not at his office, but at Baron’s Roman Ridge mansion.
Sammy Darko, a loudmouth Director of Communication at the OSP told TNR he sees nothing wrong with the OSP abandoning his official office to hold meetings at the residence of Santa Baron. “in fact, we met some diplomats and government officials there”, noted Darko, insisting that the Special Prosecutor has reasons to where he hold meetings depending on the nature of the meeting.
Nelson Effah, a nephew of Santa Baron, is reportedly on the OSP payroll despite having no qualifications, working in the operations department and cashing a monthly salary.
Then there’s 63-year-old Benjamin Adam Iddrisah, another connection of Baron. He was recruited by Agyebeng into the operations department, only to vanish after three months. When questioned about his age, he simply said, “Kissi knows about this.”
Evelyn Dennis, who works for both Santa Baron and the OSP, is said to be a phantom employee. According to a source, she barely shows up at the office, taking instructions only from Agyebeng and Kwabena Aidoo, designated by the OSP as the acting Director of Operations.
“She was absent from work for three months and when asked, we were told she is on a special assignment,” the source revealed. “Our checks confirmed that she was in South Africa working for ‘Santa Baron’ and yet she was receiving salary from OSP.”
PRIVATE MEETINGS, PUBLIC FAILURES
Insiders reveal that Agyebeng’s Roman Ridge rendezvous aren’t limited to just his godfather. He also reportedly meets with Baron and his friend, Alex Takyi Yeboah, the owner of the luxurious Peduase Valley Resort, to discuss sensitive cases.
Neither Baron nor Yeboah are known to be lawyers, raising serious questions about their influence on the Special Prosecutor. Many believe this could be the reason the OSP has become a “paper tiger”—a toothless bulldog that collects corruption cases but fails to secure prosecutions.
But According to Darko, the OSP’s office has been working day and knight to accomplish their objectives.
The clandestine meetings have created a deep rift within the OSP. Agyebeng is said to be at loggerheads with some of his key staff, and the investigative unit is reportedly a shell of its former self, with investigations being sabotaged.
This has led to open animosity, with Director of Investigations Basintale allegedly in a bitter feud with the Special Prosecutor.
Meanwhile, rumors of a cover-up are swirling, with claims of criminal behavior, including subterfuge and signature forgery by some staff.
These allegations are eerily similar to the ones made by former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu, who revealed that some of his staff were compromised.
The stench of rot seems to be rising from the very office tasked with fighting corruption. Just what is going on at the Office of the Special Prosecutor? More to come.