President John Dramani Mahama has called on Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Majority Chief Whip Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor to withdraw a Private Member’s Bill seeking to repeal the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) Act.
The request follows President Mahama’s public reaffirmation of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) as a vital institution in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts.
Addressing the National Peace Council, the President described the attempt to abolish the OSP as premature, emphasising the need to strengthen the office rather than dismantle it. He also encouraged the OSP to enhance its performance to build greater public trust.
“I think it is premature to call for the scrapping of the Office of the Special Prosecutor. We should give them time, and I urge the office to speed up with its work,” he said.
The contentious repeal bill, submitted on December 8, 2025, by Ayariga and Dafeamekpor, seeks to return full prosecutorial authority over corruption cases to the Attorney-General. Its proponents argue that the OSP has grappled with constitutional uncertainties, overlapping mandates, and high operational costs over the past eight years.
However, critics — including President Mahama — insist that the OSP remains central to promoting transparency and accountable governance.
They warn edthat dismantling the institution at this stage could weaken Ghana’s broader anti-corruption architecture.
Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed the President’s directive and reiterated the administration’s commitment to reinforcing state institutions tasked with combating corruption.
Earlier, Veteran lawyer and former Council of State member, Sam Okudzeto, called for the scrapping of the OSP, arguing that the institution has failed to deliver on its core mandate since its establishment.
Speaking during an interview on Joy News on Monday, December 8, 2025, Okudzeto said the OSP has not produced any meaningful results in the fight against corruption, despite the high expectations that accompanied its creation.
According to him, the office has become more of a burden than a solution.
Okudzeto criticised the OSP’s structure, strategy, and outcomes, stating that its operations have not justified the state’s investment.
He argued that corruption cases have not been prosecuted effectively, and the public has yet to see any significant convictions or recovery of stolen funds.
Okudzeto stated that the OSP has outlived its usefulness and must be scrapped.
The senior statesman added that the Attorney-General’s Department already has the constitutional mandate to prosecute corruption and other criminal offences, making the OSP unnecessary.
He suggested strengthening existing institutions instead of creating parallel bodies that end up being ineffective.
