By: Ashiadey Dotse
Former National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, has condemned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over what he describes as the unacceptable and needless intimidation of private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, following his arrest and detention by the OSP.
“This intimidation on Martin Kpebu is needless. It does not sit well with the impartiality expected of an institution like the OSP.”
Speaking on GTV’s Current Agenda Show on Saturday December 6, 2025, Mr. Mornah said the OSP should not act as both complainant and judge in matters where its own integrity is questioned. He argued that the OSP ought to have referred the case involving Kpebu to an independent body like the Ghana Police Service rather than initiating punitive actions itself.
According to him, if the OSP believes Martin Kpebu has committed obstruction or made unfounded allegations, the proper procedure is to file a complaint and allow another institution to investigate.
“If somebody attacks your persona, you don’t turn around to investigate the same person yourself. It is like a judge reporting himself to his own court,” he said.
Mr. Mornah further criticised the growing number of anti-corruption bodies in the country, arguing that instead of creating more agencies like the OSP, government should focus on empowering existing ones and insulating them from political control.
He stressed that both the Attorney General and the Special Prosecutor are appointed by the President, making it difficult to argue that one is more politically independent than the other. He noted that corruption-related matters could be effectively handled if institutions were given autonomy and protected from executive influence.
Mornah also questioned the resources spent on OSP operations, citing instances where vehicles and officials were deployed in situations he believes could have been handled by the police.
He maintained that since the OSP has prosecutorial powers similar to the police, using those powers in cases where the office is directly involved creates a conflict of interest.
“When you accuse someone and still sit to investigate the same person, how impartial can you be?” he quizzed.
Mr. Mornah insisted that the arrest and handling of Martin Kpebu could undermine public confidence in the Special Prosecutor’s office. He reiterated his long-held view that the OSP has not significantly advanced the fight against corruption since its establishment.
