Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah
The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South and a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has called for a critical review of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), citing its underwhelming performance in prosecuting corruption cases despite substantial budget allocations.
The MP raised these concerns during the appropriation debate for the OSP’s 2025 budget estimate on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
Speaking in an interview following his submission on Friday, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah highlighted that the OSP, established nearly eight years ago to investigate and prosecute corruption involving public officeholders and politically exposed persons, is currently prosecuting only three cases in court and has not secured any convictions during that period.
“For the last seven years, they have prosecuted three cases, yet they’ve never secured a conviction,” he said, questioning the office’s impact given its funding.
Last year, the OSP received over GH¢149 million, with a similar amount approved for 2025. According to the MP, this raises concerns about the office’s efficiency.
“Are we not throwing good money after a wild goose chase?” he asked.
The MP emphasised that his critique is not aimed at the current Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, who assumed office four years ago, but at the institution itself and the need for a broader conversation on its mandate and effectiveness.
“This is not about personalities, it’s about the office,” he clarified.
Awuah pointed out that the OSP’s mandate overlaps with existing state agencies such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), both of which, he argued, have stronger track records in combating corruption.
He cited CHRAJ’s investigations into high-profile figures across administrations, such as P.V. Obeng in 1996, Dr. Richard Anane under President Kufuor, and even sitting President Mahama over the Ford vehicle saga, as evidence of its effectiveness.
“CHRAJ has a proven record and constitutional backing. Why not give it prosecutorial powers?” he proposed.
The Manhyia MP suggested that the OSP should prioritize the Auditor General’s reports and Public Accounts Committee findings, which he described as “the lowest-hanging fruit” for identifying corruption in public expenditure.
“Year after year, we see the Auditor General’s findings and the fallout at Public Accounts hearings. If the OSP were truly effective, that’s where their focus would be,” he said.
The MP affirmed that his criticism is in no way connected to investigations against some members of his party, the New Patriotic Party, but stems from the need for an honest discussion about the OSP’s effectiveness.
“If you’re accused of corruption and you’re innocent, go defend yourself. But I’m saying there’s a state institution with a better track record—empower that instead,” he argued.
He insisted that a frank conversation about the OSP’s mandate would help address issues of duplication among state agencies in the fight against corruption.
On Thursday, Parliament approved a total of GH₵146,750,289 for the OSP’s operations in 2025.
According to the report of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee on the budget allocation, the OSP listed some of its achievements for 2025, including the launch of the Youth Against Corruption (YAC) initiative and preventing the disbursement of GH¢2,854,144.80 in unearned salaries paid to individuals who were deceased, retired, had vacated their posts, were flagged as missing, or whose whereabouts were unknown.
On prosecutions, the OSP outlined that it has initiated legal action against several individuals, including the former CEO of the Public Procurement Authority, former executives of the Northern Development Authority, and the president’s nominee for Chief Executive of the Juaben Municipal Assembly during the tenure of the previous government.
GA/MA