President John Dramani Mahama has thrown his weight behind efforts to strengthen the prosecutorial mandate of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), even as the agency’s authority remains under judicial scrutiny.
Addressing workers at the 2026 May Day celebration in Koforidua, the President acknowledged the ongoing legal contest surrounding the OSP’s powers but stressed the need to enhance its effectiveness in tackling corruption.
“While some of the issues are pending appeal and Supreme Court interpretation, government believes that there is space for an effective Office of the Special Prosecutor with special powers of prosecution,” he stated.
The remarks come at a time when the scope of the OSP’s prosecutorial authority is being contested in the courts, following a High Court decision that cast doubt on its ability to independently prosecute criminal cases. The ruling held that such powers are constitutionally vested in the Attorney-General.
That decision has since been challenged, with the matter now expected to be conclusively determined by the Supreme Court of Ghana.
The legal dispute has sparked wider debate about the operational independence of the OSP and its capacity to lead the country’s anti-corruption efforts without undue interference.
Established in 2017, the OSP was designed as a specialised anti-graft body tasked with investigating and prosecuting corruption-related offences, particularly those involving public officials. Its creation was widely seen as a major institutional step in Ghana’s fight against corruption.
However, the current uncertainty over its prosecutorial mandate has raised concerns among legal experts and governance advocates, who argue that clarity is essential for the office to function effectively.
Mahama’s intervention signals a broader policy position that, despite the legal ambiguities, there is political will to reinforce the OSP’s role in ensuring accountability and transparency in public life.
