Elvis Darko, a respected journalist and Editor-in-Chief of the Newscenta newspaper, has sparked national debate by raising a provocative question about the relevance of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
According to him, after more than eight years of operation, the OSP has achieved little to demonstrate its effectiveness in fighting corruption in the country.
Speaking on Channel One TV, he said “The OSP doesn’t have a good record as we speak today in terms of the purpose for which we set them up. Over eight years of establishment, and if you’re looking for OSP’s achievements, it is so insignificant. We spend so much money on this organisation. How many successful prosecutions have they had compared to the Police and CID, which we don’t even resource enough?
“You ask yourself: Is it worth it to have the OSP continue to exist? We need to focus on institutions that give us results. The Police and CID, even with limited resources, have better conviction records.”
His comments come amid growing concerns and accusations that the former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, was deliberately avoiding accountability and public scrutiny after the OSP invited him for questioning as part of ongoing investigations related to his tenure in office.
According to the OSP, the inquiry is believed to involve financial transactions and procurement processes during his tenure under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Ofori-Atta, who is reportedly abroad, emphasised in his response that he remains committed to cooperating fully with the investigation. He proposed a virtual meeting via Zoom or another secure platform.
The OSP warned that if Ofori-Atta fails to report by the stipulated date, his name will be reinstated on the list of wanted persons in Ghana, and he will again be officially declared a fugitive from justice.
In that event, the Office stated that it will begin the formal process to request an INTERPOL Red Notice, which could lead to international arrest and extradition.
OSP established to fight corruption
Established in 2018 as part of Ghana’s anti-corruption strategy, the Office of the Special Prosecutor was designed to be an independent body tasked with investigating and prosecuting high-level corruption cases, especially those involving politically exposed persons.
However, after several years of operation, public sentiment has shifted. Many Ghanaians are questioning the effectiveness and relevance of the OSP.
