President John Dramani Mahama has moved to protect the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) by formally requesting Parliament to withdraw the Private Member’s Bill seeking to repeal the law that established the anti-corruption body.
The directive, conveyed to the Majority Leader and Majority Chief Whip, reinforces the President’s public pledge to strengthen the OSP, which he has described as a “vital cog” in Ghana’s governance and anti-corruption framework.
President Mahama’s intervention came a day after he voiced strong support for the institution during an engagement with the National Peace Council on Wednesday. He stressed that the OSP remains central to the national fight against corruption and must be fortified rather than abolished.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the President reiterated his position and called for the immediate withdrawal of the repeal bill, which had been sponsored by some members of the parliamentary majority.
“The President’s request follows his public expression of support for the strengthening of The Office of Special Prosecutor as a vital cog in the fight against corruption at a meeting with The Peace Council yesterday,” the statement said.
Alongside his backing, President Mahama urged the OSP to do more to build public trust and to pursue corruption cases more assertively.
“The President also reiterates his call on The Office of The Special Prosecutor to do more to boost public confidence in its work and frontally tackle corruption in line with the objectives informing the establishment of the office,” the statement added.
The development marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over the future of the OSP, which has faced persistent scrutiny regarding its operational independence and effectiveness since it was created. Political observers view the President’s move as an effort to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to combating corruption amid public concern.
Established in 2017 under Act 959, the OSP is mandated to investigate and prosecute designated corruption and corruption-related offences involving public officials as well as private individuals implicated in such acts.
