Kissi Agyebeng

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Kissi Agyebeng
Special Prosecutor
Assumed office
  5 August 2021
PresidentNana Akufo-Addo
Preceded byMartin Amidu
Personal details
Born
William Kissi Agyebeng

(1978-07-02) 2 July 1978 (age 43)
Ghana
EducationAccra Academy
Alma mater

Kissi Agyebeng is a Ghanaian lawyer, academic and the Special Prosecutor of Ghana as of 2021. Prior to his appointment, his was a lecturer at the University of Ghana and the chairman of the Electronic Communications Tribunal of Ghana.

Early life and education[]

Agyebeng was born on 2 July 1978, and hails from Kwahu Nkwatia, in the Eastern Region.[1][2][3] He attended the Accra Academy where  he obtained his Ordinary Level (O-Level) certificate in 1994 and his Advanced Level (A-Level) certificate in 1996.[1][2] Following his secondary education, he gained admission to study Law at the University of Ghana, where he graduated in 2001 as the best graduating student of his batch, winning the Bentsi-Enchill Award for Best Graduating Law Student.[1][2][3][4][5] Agyabeng continued at the Ghana School of Law in 2001, and graduated in 2003 with the E.N. Sowah Memorial Award for Best Student in Family Law.[1][2][3][4][5] That same year, he was called to the Ghana Bar.[4] In 2004 he enrolled at the Schulich School of Law, University of Dallhousie, where he studied Marine and Environmental Law, graduating in 2005.[1][2][3] Following his postgraduate studies at Dallhousie, he entered Cornell Law School, Cornell University, for another master's degree program in Banking, Corporate, Finance and Security Law.[1][2][3] At Cornell, he was the editor of the Cornell LL.M. Newsletter.[1][2]

Career[]

Academia[]

Following his post graduate studies abroad, Agyebeng returned to Ghana where he gained employment as a lecturer at the University of Ghana.[1][2][3][4][5] In 2009, he doubled as the International Humanitarian Law lecturer at the Regional Maritime University in Nungua, Accra.[1][2] In 2011 he joined the Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, and a year later, taught Criminal Law at Mountcrest University College.[1][2] In 2013 and 2014, he taught Criminal Law at Central University College, and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) respectively.[1][2] He remained a lecturer at the University of Ghana until his appointment as the Special Prosecutor in 2021.[1][2]

Legal practice[]

Agyebeng begun as an associate at Zoe, Akyea and Co. Law firm.[1][2] He joined the Center for Public Interest Law (CEPIL), a Human Rights/Public Interest Law Firm in Accra in 2008, and a year later, gained employment at the Accra based Ayine and Felli Law Firm as a Senior Associate.[1][2] Prior to his appointment to the office of the Special Prosecutor, he was a Managing Partner of Cromwell Gray LLP, and the chairman of the Electronic Communications Tribunal of Ghana; a tribunal responsible for the adjudication of appeals from verdicts of the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Dispute Resolution Committee of the NCA, with regards to the use of electronic communications, how broadcasting is regulated, and the utilization of the electro-magnetic spectrum, in addition to other related issues.[1][2][3][5] He was made chairman of the tribunal on 1 July 2019, succeeding Samuel Date-Bah, formerly Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana.[5]

Nomination and Appointment as Special Prosecutor[]

Agyebeng was nominated on 26 April 2021 by the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to replace Martin Amidu, the former Special Prosecutor who resigned on 16 November 2020.[6][7] The nomination was with accordance to section 13(8) of the Special Prosecutor Act 2017 (Act 959) that states that; "When the position of the Special Prosecutor becomes vacant, the president shall, within six months, appoint another qualified person for that portfolio".[8] In a letter to the office of the president, the Attorney General stated that; "Kissi Agyebeng possesses the requisite expertise on corruption and corruption-related matters, is of high moral character and proven integrity and satisfies all the other requirements stipulated in section 13(1) and (2) of Act 959".[9] The nomination was then approved by the president and forwarded to parliament.[10] He was vetted by the Appointments Committee of parliament on Thursday 22 July 2021,[11][12][13] and unanimously recommended.[3][14][15] He was subsequently approved unanimously by parliament on Friday 30 July 2021.[15][16][17] As stated by the first deputy speaker of parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu; "The motion is adopted, Kissi Agyebeng has been confirmed as a nominee for the position of Special Prosecutor".[18][19] Agyabeng was sworn into office by the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo on Thursday 5 August 2021.[20] According to the president; "He has the capacity, the experience, the requisite values and intellectual strength to succeed in this vital position".[21]

On December 9th, 2021, it was reported he delivered a speech on the World Anti-Corruption Day.[22][23]

Selected publications[]

  • The Prophecies of the Prophetic Jurist – A Review of Selected Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (2005). Cornell Law School LL.M. Papers Series. Paper10.[1][2]
  • Disappearing Acts – Toward a Global Civil Liability Regime for Pollution Damage Resulting from Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration (2006). Cornell Law School LL.M. Papers Series. Paper 11[1][2]
  • Minority Rights in Corporate Governance in Ghana: The End of the Rule in Foss v. Harbottle?, in Ghana Law Since Independence: History, Development and Prospects, Mensa-Bonsu et al eds, 73 (Black Mask Ltd, 2007)[1][2]
  • To Disclose or Not to Disclose the Offence – That is the Question: The Case of Allan William Hodgson (2008-2010) 24 University of Ghana Law Journal 87[1][2]
  • A Commitment to Law, Development & Public Policy – A Festschrift in Honour of Nana Dr. SKB Asante (Wildy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing, London, 2016) – co-editor with Richard Frimpong Oppong[1][2]
  • Conflict of Laws in Ghana (Sedco Publishing, Accra, (upcoming February 2021) – co-author with Richard Frimpong Oppong[1][2][25]

Personal life[]

Agyebeng is a Christian and married.[1][2]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Profile of Special Prosecutor nominee, Kissi Agyebeng". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w MyNewsGH (2021-04-26). "All you need to know about Kissi Agyebeng Ghana's Special Prosecutor nominee". MyNewsGh. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "All you need to know about Special Prosecutor nominee Kissi Agyebeng - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  4. ^ a b c d "Who is Kissi Agyebeng, the man pencilled in for Special Prosecutor?". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Parliament to vet Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng on July 22". GhanaWeb. 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  6. ^ Aklorbortu, Priscilla (2021-04-26). "Anas's lawyer Kissi Agyabeng to replace Martin Amidu as special prosecutor". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  7. ^ "What exactly do you want? - Opanyin Agyekum to critics of Kissi Agyabeng's nomination". GhanaWeb. 2021-05-01. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  8. ^ "All you need to know about Kissi Agyebeng, Ghana's Special Prosecutor nominee". GhanaWeb. 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  9. ^ "Kissi Agyebeng nominated as Special Prosecutor". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  10. ^ "Akufo-Addo accepts Kissi Agyebeng's nomination as Special Prosecutor". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  11. ^ "Vetting of Special Prosecutor: Kissi Agyebeng comes to Appointments Committee like a wrecking ball - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  12. ^ Aklorbortu, Priscilla (2021-07-23). "Special Prosecutor: 6 top highlights from Kissi Agyabeng's 5-hour long vetting". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  13. ^ Online, Peace FM. "New Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyabeng Isn't God; He Needs Our Help - Charles Owusu". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  14. ^ Online, Peace FM. "Dr Osae Hails Unanimous Approval Of Special Prosecutor Nominee". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  15. ^ a b "Parliamentary approves Kissi Agyabeng as Special Prosecutor". 31 July 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Akufo-Addo swear in Kissi Agyebeng as Special Prosecutor today". Modern Ghana. 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  17. ^ "Be politically neutral & independent - Haruna to Kissi Agyebeng". GhanaWeb. 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  18. ^ Aklorbortu, Priscilla (2021-08-05). "Akufo-Addo to swear-in Kissi Agyebeng as Ghana's 2nd Special Prosecutor today". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  19. ^ Aklorbortu, Priscilla (2021-08-02). "Parliament finally approves Kissi Agyebeng as Special Prosecutor". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  20. ^ "Kissi Agyabeng to be sworn-in as new SP today". GhanaWeb. 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  21. ^ Amoh, Emmanuel Kwame (2021-08-05). "Kissi Agyebeng 'eminently qualified' to be Special Prosecutor – Akufo-Addo". 3news. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  22. ^ "Full text: Special Prosecutor's speech on World Anti-Corruption Day - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  23. ^ "Kissi Agyebeng speaks on occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day [Full speech]". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  24. ^ Cornell International Law Journal. Cornell Society of International Law. 2006.
  25. ^ Addaney, Michael; Nyarko, Michael Gyan; Boshoff, Elsabé (2019-11-19). Governance, Human Rights, and Political Transformation in Africa. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-030-27049-0.
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