President John Dramani Mahama has mounted a vigorous defense of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), arguing that the institution’s continued existence is vital not just for fighting corruption, but for restoring public trust in Ghana’s democratic process.
Speaking at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, the President explicitly opposed recent calls to scrap the OSP – fueled by controversies like the detention of private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu and the office’s perceived lack of prosecutions – branding such demands as “premature.”
“I don’t enjoy prosecuting people but I mean the people of Ghana will not forgive us if people develop impunity in terms of abusing the trust that people have put in them and so that’s why we’re resourcing the Economic and Organised Crime Office and the other anti-corruption institutions including the Office of the Special Prosecutor”
President John Dramani Mahama
The President framed the anti-corruption fight as an existential challenge for Ghana’s governance, warning against the cynicism that could erode faith in the political elite.
He stated that the government has a “last opportunity to keep the faith and trust of our people,” cautioning that if the populace loses hope, “Ghana is not immune to coup d’etats.” The OSP, he asserted, is a critical pillar in his administration’s strategy to regain that trust by being accountable itself and “holding persons who have held office and abused the public trust to account.”
“Recently there has been some controversy with the office of the special prosecutor but I think it’s premature to call for the closure of that office”
President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama’s primary defense rested on the OSP’s unique legal mandate to operate independently of the government’s political structure.
He argued that the creation of the OSP was a direct response to the historical “mistrust” the public held for the Attorney-General (AG). Because the AG is a Minister of State and a member of the government, people naturally believe the AG would be “very reluctant to prosecute his own.”
The OSP, by contrast, is the only anti-corruption agency that possesses prosecutorial powers without needing the AG’s authority. Crucially, the Special Prosecutor is protected by security of tenure, ensuring that accountability is non-partisan and relentless.
This independence ensures that “it won’t matter who you are” – whether a member of the current government or a previous one – the OSP has the mandate to prosecute anyone who has misappropriated public funds.
Constitutional and Financial Critique
However, the President’s argument faces strong resistance from the Legislative Arm, led by Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin.
Speaking on the floor of the House earlier, the Speaker questioned the very foundation of the institution, reiterating his long-held view that the OSP has no constitutional basis.
Rt. Hon. Bagbin maintained that the office was established chiefly as a symbolic measure “to signal to the world that we are going to fight corruption.” He argued that the lack of substantive results has since “vindicated” those who opposed its formation.
The Speaker demanded financial scrutiny, stressing that Parliament “cannot continue to allocate that huge sums to the same office when we are not getting the results.” He suggested the OSP is now ripe for governmental review.
Despite the institutional friction and parliamentary opposition, President Mahama concluded with a final, urgent appeal directed at the Special Prosecutor: use the time remaining to produce concrete results.
While he urged the public to “give them a little time,” the President acknowledged the widespread desire to see “more prosecutions and more results.” He firmly tasked the OSP with moving swiftly to demonstrate its value, thereby silencing its critics and validating its unique, independent mandate.
“I will just urge the OSP to speed up some of these investigations and also show people that the Office is still relevant,” the President stated, confirming that the OSP must justify its crucial role in preserving the people’s trust in democracy through accelerated action.
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