The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the government of taking steps that could weaken Ghana’s anti-corruption framework, following recent legal developments affecting the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana, argued that actions by the current administration risk eroding the independence of the OSP—an institution established to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences without political interference.
According to the Minority, the OSP was created to ensure that corruption cases are handled independently of the executive branch, particularly because the Attorney-General serves at the discretion of the President. They contend that any move requiring the OSP to seek approval from the Attorney-General before prosecuting cases would undermine its core mandate.
The criticism follows a recent High Court ruling which held that the OSP does not have the constitutional authority to independently prosecute criminal cases. The court ruled that while the OSP can investigate corruption, prosecutorial powers remain exclusively with the Attorney-General.
The decision has sparked renewed debate over the structure of Ghana’s anti-corruption regime. The Minority insists that routing all prosecutions through the Attorney-General could open the door to political influence, selective justice, and the shielding of politically exposed individuals.
They further allege that ongoing legal interpretations, legislative proposals, and court processes point to a broader attempt to reassert executive control over corruption prosecutions.
“This risks returning the country to a system where political considerations determine which cases proceed,” Mr. Sulemana stated, warning that such a shift could reverse gains made in strengthening accountability and transparency.
The Minority has pledged to resist any efforts to curtail the powers of the OSP, indicating that it will explore parliamentary and legal avenues to safeguard the institution’s independence.
Meanwhile, the ruling has placed ongoing OSP prosecutions in uncertainty, with some cases expected to be put on hold pending further legal clarification. Attention is now turning to the Supreme Court, which may ultimately be called upon to provide a definitive interpretation of the OSP’s prosecutorial authority.
Observers say the outcome of this dispute could have far-reaching implications for public confidence in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts and the broader rule of law.
