President John Dramani Mahama has instructed the Majority Leader and Majority Chief Whip in Parliament to withdraw the Private Member’s Bill seeking to repeal the law that established the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The bill was sponsored by Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central, and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, MP for South Dayi.
In a memorandum dated December 8, the MPs argued that operational experience since the OSP’s creation had revealed numerous challenges, including:
- Duplication of the OSP’s prosecutorial functions with those of the Attorney-General
- Institutional friction and jurisdictional overlaps
- Delays and inefficiencies in processing cases
- High operational costs with limited visible impact
- Fragmentation of national prosecutorial strategy
- Difficulty sustaining long-term capacity due to parallel administrative structures
Mahama Reaffirms Support for OSP
A statement from the Minister of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, issued on Thursday, December 11, said the President’s directive aligns with his public support for strengthening, not abolishing, the OSP as a crucial pillar in the national anti-corruption framework.
During a meeting with the National Peace Council on Wednesday, December 10, President Mahama firmly rejected calls for the closure of the Office.
“Recently, there have been some controversies surrounding the Office of the Special Prosecutor. I think it is premature to call for the closure of that Office,”
— President John Dramani Mahama
OSP Is Unique and Necessary — Mahama
The President emphasized the unique role of the OSP, highlighting that it is the only anti-corruption institution with independent prosecutorial powers, allowing it to prosecute cases without approval from the Attorney-General.
This independence, he noted, was born out of public mistrust of political interference in the Attorney-General’s office.
“People had mistrust for the Attorney-General because the Attorney-General is normally a member of government and a Minister of State, and so they believed that the Attorney-General would be reluctant to prosecute his own,” he explained.
Mahama stressed that while strengthening institutions such as EOCO is important, the OSP remains critical to Ghana’s fight against corruption.
President Mahama also urged the Special Prosecutor to expedite investigations, ensure timely prosecutions, and demonstrate to the public that the Office remains effective and relevant in tackling corruption.
