The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has warned that Ghana’s anti-corruption fight remains fragile, revealing that efforts to dismantle the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) have not gone away.
Speaking at a national dialogue organised by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development in Accra, Mr Agyebeng said the Office came close to being shut down in 2025, even at a time he described as its strongest period of performance.
“Politicians don’t want us around. It is that simple,” he stated, pointing to the discomfort the Office creates for political actors.
He cautioned that the threat to scrap the OSP is “not dead” and called on civil society groups to actively defend and support the institution.
Mr Agyebeng stressed that the future of the Office should not depend on the discretion of any sitting President. Instead, he said, it must be firmly protected by law to ensure its independence and continuity.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor was established in 2018 to investigate and prosecute corruption, but it has consistently faced concerns over political interference, limited resources and questions about its autonomy.
Also speaking at the event, Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships at CDD-Ghana, argued that the current system, where the Attorney General handles corruption prosecutions, has not been effective, particularly in cases involving politically exposed persons.
According to him, Attorneys General often find it difficult to pursue cases against colleagues within government, leading to a pattern where officials from previous administrations are more likely to be prosecuted.
“It is not easy to prosecute people you sit in Cabinet with,” he said.
Mr Asante noted that the creation of the OSP has helped address some of these challenges, but said more must be done to strengthen the institution.
He supported proposals to upgrade the Office into a fully independent anti-corruption commission, backed by stronger legal safeguards, an independent appointment process and adequate funding.
The dialogue formed part of a broader review of the OSP’s work over the past eight years, with discussions focused on reforms needed to reinforce Ghana’s anti-corruption framework.
