OSP Probes 67 Cases of Suspected Corruption

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revealed that it is investigating 67 cases of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences, marking one of its most extensive inquiries since its establishment. 

The disclosure was made in the OSP’s half-year report, released today, August 19, which outlined cases spanning government ministries, state-owned enterprises, and high-profile individuals.

The report highlighted ongoing investigations into some of the country’s most sensitive institutions, contracts, and transactions, underscoring the breadth of corruption-related risks in public administration. 

The OSP noted that the investigations cover both recent and past dealings, with some cases dating back more than a decade. Among the headline cases is the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), which is under investigation for suspected corruption in its operations between 2020 and 2024. 

The inquiry focuses on payments linked to Agyapa Royalties Limited and extends to transactions involving GIG Minerals Limited, RCM Properties, Energy & Resources Company Limited, Goldstrom Ghana Limited, and BH Minerals Limited. 

The Agyapa royalties deal, which has long drawn public scrutiny, has once again resurfaced under the lens of the OSP. The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has also been flagged for review. The OSP said it is examining suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding operational and contractual arrangements between 2020 and 2024. 

Aviation contracts and procurement have historically faced criticism for opacity, and the OSP’s inquiry seeks to establish the extent of possible irregularities.

Equally concerning is the investigation into the Ghana Education Service (GES), which the OSP said involves the large-scale sale of appointment letters to prospective teachers. 

According to the report, this illegal practice also involved laundering proceeds from the unlawful enterprise. If confirmed, the allegations suggest systemic abuse of recruitment processes at one of Ghana’s largest public service institutions.

The National Commission on Culture is also under investigation for its operations between 2020 and 2024. The OSP is probing suspected corruption and extortion, particularly in relation to staff salaries and arrears. 

Similarly, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), through its collaboration with Tata Consulting Services, has been listed in the report as subject to investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences.

Recruitment practices have also attracted the OSP’s attention. The National Service Authority is being investigated for suspected corruption regarding the recruitment of service personnel and related activities between 2020 and 2024.  These allegations echo longstanding concerns about the fairness and transparency of postings in the scheme.

The Ministry of Health and Service Ghana Auto Group Limited are under probe for a contract awarded for the purchase and maintenance of 307 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.  The ambulance deal, first announced with fanfare, has been mired in questions about pricing and after-sales arrangements.

The National Cathedral project, which has courted significant controversy in recent years, is also a subject of the OSP’s work. The report said the investigations cover procurement of contractors and materials, as well as payments made by former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta and the National Cathedral Secretariat.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has not been left out. The OSP has opened investigations into suspected corruption related to the termination of a contract with Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC). 

The deal, which was tied to distribution, loss reduction, and network improvement projects, was controversially cancelled, prompting concerns about irregularities and potential financial losses to the state.

Payroll management across the government is also being scrutinized. The OSP is conducting a joint corruption risk assessment with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department into suspected fraud and corruption in the government’s payroll administration.

The aim is to identify and remove ghost names and other ineligible individuals, recover wrongful payments, prosecute those involved, and strengthen internal controls.

The issue of land administration, a recurring theme in corruption cases, has again featured prominently. The OSP said it is investigating the appropriation, sale, and lease of state-owned lands and properties since 1993. 

This spans lands under the care of the Lands Commission, the Ministry of Works and Housing, the State Housing Company, and other agencies. Of particular concern is the management of vested lands, including parcels occupied by the Judicial Service of Ghana, and whether public assets have been improperly alienated to individuals and corporate entities.

Illegal mining, or “galamsey,” another persistent governance challenge, remains under investigation. The OSP said its work in this area is ongoing and aimed at tackling suspected corruption tied to the practice, which has devastated communities and natural resources.

The National Sports Authority is also on the list. The OSP is examining contracts awarded to companies such as Acoma Green Consult, Tabee Gh. Limited, Wanschie Car Rentals, and others, in what it described as suspected corruption related to procurement. 

Similarly, the Ghana Water Company Limited is under probe for contracts awarded to multiple firms, including Nayak 96 Enterprise, Dencom Construction Works, Edmus Limited, Jomaks, and Roger More Construction Limited.

The Customs Division of the GRA is facing scrutiny for the issuance of customs advance rulings and markdowns of benchmark values, as well as auction sales of vehicles and goods between July 2016 and August 2022. These activities, long viewed as prone to abuse, are now formally under the OSP’s lens.

In the financial sector, the OSP is investigating the collapse of several banks and financial institutions, which shook the economy in recent years. The report said the inquiry focuses on alleged corruption by officials of the Bank of Ghana, banks, specialised deposit-taking institutions, and financial holding companies.

Finally, the report referenced an investigation into the estate of the late Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John.  The OSP said it is probing allegations of improper acquisition of state-protected land at the Achimota Forest enclave and the Sakumono Ramsar site by the former Forestry Commission boss.

The OSP emphasized that while all 67 cases are at different stages of investigation, none has yet been concluded. It assured the public of its commitment to pursue the matters diligently and in line with due process.

With corruption widely regarded as one of the biggest impediments to Ghana’s development, the OSP’s half-year report is likely to fuel debate about governance, accountability, and the role of state institutions in safeguarding public resources.

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