By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Adjei Baffour Awuah, has dismissed suggestions that he is fighting the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), clarifying that his concerns focus on the prudent use of state resources rather than opposition to law enforcement.
He noted that he is often asked why he appears to oppose an institution tasked with fighting corruption.
“The position I have taken against the OSP is not because I am against law enforcement; it’s because I am all about the prudent use of state resources,” he said in an interview with Thelma Tackie.
According to him, coming from a community of modest backgrounds, he feels compelled to ensure government avoids unnecessary expenditure. He questioned the effectiveness of the OSP, suggesting that its performance does not justify the approximately GH₵140 million allocated to it since its establishment.
Awuah described the office as engaged in public theatrics rather than delivering results, pointing out that Ghana already has existing anti-corruption bodies such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), which he believes can carry out similar mandates.
This is not the first time the Manhyia South MP has spoken out against the OSP. As a lawyer, he previously represented Charles Bissue, a former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, in a case against the OSP. Awuah clarified that the court had not dismissed any application brought on behalf of Bissue, contradicting claims made by the OSP.
He has also criticised the OSP’s approach in investigating former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, suggesting the office allowed Ofori-Atta’s legal team to dictate the pace of the investigation. The MP believes the OSP should reassess its strategy and make full use of the legal tools at its disposal, rather than relying on suspects’ cooperation.
