The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has called for the immediate resignation of the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, and the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, following their unsuccessful attempt to abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The call follows controversy surrounding a Private Member’s Bill sponsored by Ayariga and Dafeamekpor, which sought to repeal Act 959 and transfer the functions of the OSP to the Attorney-General’s Department.
However, President John Dramani Mahama publicly described the OSP as “a vital cog in the fight against corruption” and subsequently requested the withdrawal of the bill.
In a statement signed by the First Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, and issued on Saturday, December 13, 2025, the Minority criticised the President’s intervention, insisting that “The executive has no authority to dictate what happens in Parliament.”
According to the statement, the attempt to abolish the OSP “was retaliation against the Office’s recent arrest of Martin Kpebu, a staunch OSP critic and NDC loyalist.”
The Caucus further contrasted the move with what it described as the NPP’s principled defence of the independence of the OSP during its time in office.
Meanwhile, Ayariga has announced plans to withdraw the bill, citing the President’s request and expressing confidence in President Mahama’s judgment.
The bill, introduced by Ayariga and Dafeamekpor on Thursday, December 4, 2025, sought to return full prosecutorial authority over corruption-related cases to the Attorney-General.
The sponsors cited structural and constitutional challenges, duplication of functions, and high operational costs as justification.
President Mahama, however, on Thursday, December 11, urged restraint, stressing the importance of the OSP in strengthening transparency and good governance.
“The Office of the Special Prosecutor plays a critical role in our anti-corruption agenda, and my government remains committed to supporting and strengthening it,” he said.
The President’s spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, later confirmed the request for the withdrawal of the bill and reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering institutions mandated to fight corruption.
On the floor of Parliament on Thursday, Habib Iddrisu, who is also the NPP Member of Parliament for Tolon, criticised the President’s intervention, accusing the Executive of attempting to control Parliament.
“Mr Speaker, the Executive wants to control Parliament. Now the President is dictating to Members of Parliament. When the Majority Chief Whip and the Majority Leader intended to file a Private Members’ Bill, the President told them to repeal it. Why? Mr Speaker, the Executive has no authority to dictate what happens in Parliament,” he reiterated.
The OSP is Ghana’s leading anti-corruption institution, mandated to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences involving public officials and private individuals.
In a related development, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi, Yusif Sulemana, has backed President Mahama’s call for the withdrawal of the bill. He described the President’s action as an “expression of opinion” rather than an attempt to interfere with parliamentary independence.
“I strongly agree with the president that it is premature. And that is far from directing Parliament or directing the majority,” he said in an interview with journalists at Parliament House in Accra.
Sulemana, who also serves as Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, argued that the bill appeared to have been introduced out of emotion.
“You could see that there was some emotional reaction. He is the president, and we all know he does not react to emotions,” he said.
The Bole-Bamboi legislator, therefore, called for a thorough review of the OSP’s work, urging Parliament to assess its effectiveness and impact.
“Let us pause. Let us examine the details and find out whether the OSP is meeting its objectives. We should” assess how much has been spent so far and the outcomes achieved,” he added.
