By Ashiadey Dotse
President John Dramani Mahama has said it is too early for anyone to call for the closure of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
“I think it’s premature to call for the closure of that office.
So, I think we should give them a little time. Of course, people want to see more prosecutions and more results.
And so I’ll just urge the OSP to speed up some of these investigations and show people that the office is still very relevant,” the President said.
He made the remark during a meeting with the National Peace Council at the Presidency.
President Mahama noted that the OSP remains an important institution in Ghana’s fight against corruption. He explained that the office is unique because it is the only anti-corruption agency with the authority to independently prosecute cases without going through the Attorney General.
He said many people in the past lacked confidence in the Attorney General because the office is part of government, raising concerns that it might hesitate to prosecute government officials. With an independent body like the OSP, he emphasised, no one is above the law.
President Mahama added that although Ghanaians are eager to see more investigations and prosecutions, the OSP should be given more time to deliver results. He encouraged the office to accelerate its work and demonstrate its relevance.
He also noted that the government is strengthening other anti-corruption institutions, including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), to build a stronger and more effective anti-corruption framework.
The President’s comments follow calls from some Members of Parliament, including the Speaker, for the repeal of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act (Act 959), which came into force in 2017, and for the office to be abolished.
The OSP has recently faced criticism regarding the competence of its leadership and allegations involving the departure of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, with some citizens petitioning for the Special Prosecutor’s removal from office.
