President John Mahama has cautioned against moves to scrap the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), stressing that the institution remains vital to Ghana’s fight against corruption.
During a courtesy visit by the National Peace Council at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, December 10, the President underscored the OSP’s unique role as the only anti-graft body with full prosecutorial independence.
“I think it’s premature to call for the closure of that office,” President Mahama stated.
“The distinctive feature of that office is that it is the only anti-corruption agency empowered to prosecute cases directly without relying on the Attorney-General.”
He explained that skepticism surrounding the Attorney-General’s office—given its ties to the ruling government—makes the independence of the OSP indispensable.
“People believe the Attorney-General will be very reluctant to prosecute his own,” he observed.
“But if there is an independent office like the Office of the Special Prosecutor, it won’t matter who you are, because they have security of tenure and the prosecutorial authority to act.”
The President further urged the OSP to accelerate its work to restore public confidence. “People want to see more prosecutions and more results. I will just urge the OSP to speed up some of these investigations and show that the office is still very relevant,” he added.
His remarks follow calls by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga for the abolition of the OSP. Addressing Parliament on Thursday, December 4, Mr. Ayariga argued that the office has failed to fulfill its mandate nearly eight years after its creation.
He questioned both the constitutional foundation and the effectiveness of the OSP, insisting that Parliament should revisit its decision to establish the institution. According to him, the framework used to set up the office was flawed from the beginning, and its record in tackling corruption has been unimpressive.
At the same parliamentary sitting, Speaker Alban Bagbin expressed concern over the continued allocation of substantial funds to the OSP, describing the expenditure as unjustifiable in light of its performance. He noted that despite the goodwill that accompanied its establishment, the office’s output has not matched the resources invested.
Several legal luminaries, including former Ghana Bar Association President Sam Okudzeto, have also thrown their weight behind calls to dissolve the OSP, contending that it has failed to achieve its intended purpose and has become a drain on state resources.
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