Reviewing The Office Of The Special Prosecutor (Osp), Ghana: Assessing Progress On The Renewed Anti-Corruption Fight

The report assesses the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in Ghana, finding that while the office has a strong legal mandate, it has struggled with inadequate funding, staffing deficits, and political interference. Interviewed anti-corruption agencies generally agree that the OSP has not yet significantly reduced corruption or the public perception of it, though there is trust in the capacity of the second Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng. The document recommends amending the OSP Act to grant full prosecutorial independence from the Attorney General and increasing actual budget disbursements.

• Anti-corruption agencies interviewed believe the OSP has not effectively contributed to reducing actual corruption or the public perception of corruption in Ghana during its first three years.
• There is a significant gap between budgeted funds and actual disbursements for the OSP; for the 2022 financial year, only GH¢80 million was allocated out of a requested GH¢1.2 billion, representing 6.6% of the request.
• Staffing has been a persistent challenge; despite a 2018 budget allocation of GH¢33,470,466 to recruit 249 new staff, this was not operationalised, and the second Special Prosecutor reported only one person on the payroll upon assuming office in August 2021.
• The OSP's prosecutorial independence is hindered by Section 4 (subsection 2) of the OSP Act, which requires the office to seek express permission from the Attorney General to initiate and conduct prosecutions.
• While 75% of interviewed anti-graft agencies felt the OSP was not necessary due to existing institutions, there is a 75% level of trust in the expertise and capacity of the second Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, to achieve the office's mandate.
• The OSP has faced operational hurdles including initial lack of office space, which was later resolved with a 10-storey building in Accra, and a lack of a website for public complaints and tips.
• Public trust in the OSP has declined since its inception due to the perceived increase in unchecked corruption in public office.
• The OSP has engaged in several investigations, including cases involving the BOST scandal, Metro Mass Transport procurement, and tax evasion charges against MP Mahama Ayariga, though many remain inconclusive.

APA

Good Governance Africa (2021). Reviewing The Office Of The Special Prosecutor (Osp), Ghana: Assessing Progress On The Renewed Anti-Corruption Fight. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2022/04/Final-Report-Assessing-Progress-on-the-Renewed-Anti-Corruption-Fight_29.03.22.pdf

Chicago

Good Governance Africa. Reviewing The Office Of The Special Prosecutor (Osp), Ghana: Assessing Progress On The Renewed Anti-Corruption Fight. 2021. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2022/04/Final-Report-Assessing-Progress-on-the-Renewed-Anti-Corruption-Fight_29.03.22.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Good Governance Africa |title=Reviewing The Office Of The Special Prosecutor (Osp), Ghana: Assessing Progress On The Renewed Anti-Corruption Fight |date=December 2021 |url=https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2022/04/Final-Report-Assessing-Progress-on-the-Renewed-Anti-Corruption-Fight_29.03.22.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{goodgovernanceafrica2021reviewing, author = {{Good Governance Africa}}, title = {{Reviewing The Office Of The Special Prosecutor (Osp), Ghana: Assessing Progress On The Renewed Anti-Corruption Fight}}, institution = {Good Governance Africa}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2022/04/Final-Report-Assessing-Progress-on-the-Renewed-Anti-Corruption-Fight_29.03.22.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }