BY VALENTIA TETTEH
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor have drafted a private member’s bill seeking to repeal the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) and abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The draft legislation, titled Office of the Special Prosecutor (Repeal) Bill, 2025, is yet to be formally laid before Parliament.
According to the memorandum accompanying the draft bill, the lawmakers argue that the OSP has not delivered the expected results since its establishment, citing duplication of prosecutorial functions with the Attorney-General, institutional friction, jurisdictional overlap, and high operational costs relative to impact.
The bill proposes that all prosecutorial authority for corruption and corruption-related offences be fully consolidated under the Attorney-General’s office, in line with Article 88 of the Constitution.
The proposed repeal also outlines transitional arrangements, including the transfer of staff, assets, liabilities, case files, and ongoing investigations from the OSP to the Office of the Attorney-General.
Under the draft, OSP employees would be integrated into the Attorney-General’s office on terms “not less favourable” than their existing conditions, while ongoing cases would continue under the authority of the Attorney-General.
The introduction of the draft bill coincides with comments made by President John Mahama on Wednesday, December 10, stressing that it is “premature” for anyone to call for the abolition of the OSP.
Parliament is expected to consider the private member’s bill once it is formally laid, after which it will be referred to the relevant committee for scrutiny.
