Manasseh Azure Quits OSP Case Citing Explosive Concerns
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni says the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has deliberately weakened its case against former Public Procurement Authority chief A B Adjei, prompting him to withdraw as a prosecution witness.
Awuni revealed that on 8 October 2025 the OSP notified him of another court hearing scheduled for 20 October, demanding his return as a witness in the case that featured in his 2019 documentary Contracts for Sale. He had already testified and faced cross‑examination from December 2022 to April 2024.
According to Awuni, after more than a year and a half of assisting the prosecution, the OSP abruptly dropped all seventeen original charges against Adjei and the single charge against his brother‑in‑law Francis Arhin. In May 2024 the OSP filed eight fresh charges – four for using public office for private gain and four for indirectly influencing a procurement process – but the new docket required the case, which had been in court for two years, to start from scratch.
“When I compared the old and new charge sheets I found that every fresh charge already existed in the original filing,” Awuni said. “It looks as if the prosecution is working in favour of the accused and I am being used as a pawn in a pre‑programmed chess game.”
He further noted that the strongest count on influencing a procurement process was removed, rendering the new case even weaker than the original. The Director of Prosecution could not explain why Count 18 was omitted despite the CHRAJ report showing direct influence, nor could he disclose the alleged new financial evidence.
Awuni also spoke with the lawyer handling the case, who admitted that, apart from bankers called to authenticate transactions, no new money was found in Adjei’s accounts. She could not account for the missing evidence that CHRAJ said it had transferred to the OSP.
Having lost confidence in the OSP’s commitment, Awuni informed Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng on 27 October of his intention to formally withdraw. Agyebeng asked for a two‑week period for answers, but after two weeks and a subsequent month, the Special Prosecutor still had no response.
When Agyebeng later acknowledged ordering a fresh investigation and expressed no objection to dropping and refiling the case, Awuni pointed out that the matter dates back to 2019 and Ghana is now approaching 2026. He argued that a fresh investigation at this late stage indicates that no meaningful probe was conducted after the charges were refiled.
Awuni concluded that any serious investigation should have addressed the concerns he raised, warning that the apparent lack of diligence undermines public confidence in the OSP’s ability to pursue high‑profile corruption cases.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
