OSP investigates government payroll, TOR deal and State lands

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has announced the commencement of investigations and corruption risk analysis into three state matters.

The matters are; government payroll, state lands and the proposed partnership between Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and Tema Energy and Processing Limited.

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng said his outfit has the mandate to investigate and prosecute specific cases of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences, and recover the proceeds of corruption and corruption-related offences which the aforementioned cases fall under.

He made the announcement at a press conference on November 29, 2023.

Touching on the payroll, he said “The assessment and investigation are especially aimed at isolating and removing non-existent names, recovering wrongful payments and the prosecution of persons suspected to be culpable for any offences.”

Mr Agyebeng said to carry out this function, his outfit was partnering with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, adding that a joint project team has already been formed.

The assessment, he explained, will begin in two phases, the first would cover the Ghana Education Service and the health institution and subsequently, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He said investigations will cover all banks and individuals on the government payroll.

The Special Prosecutor said the management of the Tema Oil Refinery has been directed to suspend the proposed partnership agreement, ongoing negotiations, and operations with Tema Energy and Processing Limited until further notice.

Again, touching on state lands, he said “OSP has commenced an investigation into the appropriation, investigating state lands, stool lands and other vested lands to find sale and lease of state-owned land or properties to individuals and cooperate bodies since 1993.”

He explained that the investigation covers all lands and properties that fall under the direct stewardship of the Lands Commission, the Ministry of Works and Housing, all other ministries, the State Housing Company, state-owned companies and other state agencies.

Further, he added that “investigations also cover the management of vested lands and all public lands over which the State ownership or control has been relinquished and the conditions of the release and relinquishment.”

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