President Mahama Defends OSP Amid Calls for Scrapping
Former President John Mahama has cautioned against calls for the abolition of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), maintaining that the institution remains vital to Ghana’s fight against corruption.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the National Peace Council at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, December 10, Mr. Mahama emphasized the OSP’s unique position as the only anti-corruption body with complete independence in prosecution.
“I think it’s premature to call for the closure of that office,” the former President stated. “The unique thing about that office is that it is the only anti-corruption agency that has prosecutorial powers to prosecute cases itself without going through the Attorney-General.”
He explained that the public’s reservations about the Attorney-General’s office, stemming from its connection to the current government, underscore the importance of the OSP’s independence. “People believe the Attorney-General will be very reluctant to prosecute his own,” he noted. “But if there is an independent office like the Office of the Special Prosecutor, it won’t matter who you are, because they have security of tenure and the prosecutorial authority to act.”
Mr. Mahama urged the OSP to expedite ongoing investigations and prosecutions to bolster public trust. “People want to see more prosecutions and more results. I will just urge the OSP to speed up some of these investigations and show that the office is still very relevant,” he said.
The former President’s comments follow calls from the current Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, for the OSP to be scrapped, arguing it has not lived up to expectations after eight years. Mr. Ayariga, speaking in Parliament on Thursday, December 4, questioned the constitutional basis and overall effectiveness of the office, suggesting a re-evaluation of its establishment.
He contended that the initial design of the OSP, intended to align with the Constitution, was fundamentally flawed. “After almost eight years in existence, the OSP has not demonstrated any meaningful results in tackling corruption,” Mr. Ayariga added.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, also voiced concerns during the same sitting regarding the substantial budgetary allocations to the OSP, deeming the expenditure unjustified given the office’s performance. He observed that the initial optimism surrounding the OSP has not been reflected in its output.
These sentiments are echoed by some legal professionals, including former President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Sam Okudzeto, who supports the idea of dissolving the OSP, citing its failure to achieve its objectives and its perceived waste of state funds.
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