Pres. Mahama dismisses calls to scrap Office of Special Prosecutor as ‘premature’

President John Mahama has dismissed calls for the abolition of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), describing such demands as premature. He maintained that the OSP continues to play a vital role in Ghana’s anti-corruption framework and should not be dissolved.

Speaking during a courtesy call by the National Peace Council at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, 10 December, the President emphasised that the OSP remains the only anti-corruption institution with full prosecutorial independence.

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He explained that public distrust in the Attorney-General’s office, largely due to its position within the sitting government, makes the independence of the OSP even more critical.

President Mahama encouraged the OSP to expedite its ongoing cases in order to rebuild public trust. He said:

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His comments follow renewed criticism of the OSP from senior political figures. Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga recently called for the dissolution of the institution, arguing that it has failed to deliver on its core mandate eight years after its establishment.

Similarly, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, raised concerns about the continued allocation of significant budgetary resources to the OSP, describing the expenditure as unjustifiable given the office’s performance. He noted that despite the strong public support that accompanied the creation of the OSP, its output has not reflected the level of investment.

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Several prominent legal figures have joined the debate including the former President of the Ghana Bar Association, Sam Okudzeto, who argues that the OSP has not achieved its intended purpose and has become a drain on State resources.