Abu Jinapor urges sober debate over Special Prosecutor Office
Samuel Abu Jinapor, ranking member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and MP for Damongo, on Thursday joined the national debate on whether the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) should continue or be scrapped.
During a spirited parliamentary session, Jinapor called the moment an “important opportunity to reflect on the principles that informed its establishment and the direction in which we must proceed as a country committed to the rule of law.”
The OSP, created under President Nana Akufo‑Addo’s administration in 2018, was intended to bolster Ghana’s anti‑corruption architecture by providing a dedicated institution for rigorous investigation and prosecution of corrupt practices.
“The goal was to establish a dedicated institution focused on the rigorous investigation, unravelling and prosecution of corruption,” Jinapor said, noting that similar models operate in several other jurisdictions.
Almost eight years on, Jinapor admitted that critical questions remain unanswered – chiefly whether the Office has fulfilled its mandate and whether its prosecutorial powers are constitutionally grounded.
Addressing claims by the Majority Caucus that the OSP is unconstitutional and ineffective, the Damongo MP warned, “If the governing side genuinely believes the Office should be abolished, they have the means to act rather than deliver extended public lectures on the subject.”
He cautioned that Ghana must not treat the law as a tool for political expediency, stressing that institutional credibility depends on consistency.
“When concerns are raised only when the interests of certain political actors are affected, it undermines public confidence and gives the impression that the law serves convenience rather than justice,” he warned.
Jinapor emphasized that democracy is strengthened only when justice is applied impartially, urging Parliament and the public to uphold fairness and constitutionalism as the debate continues.
“Let us remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law, ensuring that justice is applied fairly, consistently, and without fear or favour, for it is in this that the strength of our democracy truly lies,” he concluded.
Earlier in the session, Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business Mahama Ayariga had indicated that the OSP must be scrapped, sparking the current floor debate.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
