The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has made it clear: Ghana’s battle against corruption must not lose its most powerful weapon — the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Speaking passionately at a Constitutional Review Committee forum, Mr. Agyebeng firmly rejected growing calls to dissolve the OSP and transfer its mandate to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). He labelled such proposals as “misguided,” stressing that the OSP remains Ghana’s primary institution for combating corruption.
Mounting Criticism — But a Strong Defense
Critics argue that the OSP duplicates the functions of the Attorney General and other investigative bodies.
Economist Dr. Michael Ayamga Adongo from the University for Development Studies (UDS) has accused the OSP of making a “mockery” of fighting corruption.
Similarly, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), insists the OSP should be scrapped, citing what he calls its ineffectiveness.
But Mr. Agyebeng disagrees — and he isn’t backing down.
“Transferring to CHRAJ Won’t Work,” Says Agyebeng
“I’ve heard suggestions that CHRAJ should be given this mandate. Plainly speaking, that won’t work,” he asserted. “Let CHRAJ continue focusing on its human rights duties while the OSP stands as Ghana’s frontline anti-corruption institution, fully anchored in the Constitution.”
Mr. Agyebeng cautioned that dismantling the OSP would severely set back Ghana’s anti-corruption progress, warning that it would undo years of hard-won gains.
An Effective System Already in Place
He further explained that Ghana’s current three-pronged system works well:
• OSP focuses on corruption,
• CHRAJ handles human rights issues,
• EOCO (Economic and Organised Crime Office) tackles economic crimes.
“Since 2018, our experience shows this structure functions effectively,” he noted, highlighting strong collaboration among the institutions.
A Pillar in Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Efforts
The Office of the Special Prosecutor was established in 2018 as Ghana’s flagship independent anti-corruption agency, aligning with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
Its core mission is to investigate and prosecute suspected cases of corruption in both the public and private sectors, recover illicitly acquired assets, and implement preventive measures against corruption.
OSP’s Impact: Real Results
As of Monday, April 28, the OSP reported the following achievements:
• Four successful prosecutions,
• Over GHS 3 million recovered,
• More than GHS 135 million saved for the nation.
These figures stand as evidence that Ghana’s anti-corruption war is making tangible progress — and that dismantling the OSP would be a mistake.