President John Dramani Mahama has asked the Majority Leader and Majority Chief Whip in Parliament to withdraw the Private Member’s Bill seeking to repeal the Act establishing the Office of Special Prosecutor.
Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced the request in a press statement on Thursday.
The President’s intervention follows his public expression of support for strengthening the Office of Special Prosecutor during a meeting with the National Peace Council on Wednesday.
“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.
During Wednesday’s engagement, President had described calls for the closure of the OSP as “premature,” arguing it remains the only anti-corruption agency with prosecutorial powers independent of the Attorney General.
The President explained that the office’s unique characteristic is its ability to prosecute cases without going through the Attorney General, addressing public mistrust stemming from the perception that Attorneys General, who are typically government ministers, would be reluctant to prosecute political figures.
In Thursday’s statement, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said the President reiterates his call on the Office of the Special Prosecutor to boost public confidence in its work.
“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 Office of Special Prosecutor was established to independently investigate and prosecute corruption cases involving public officials and politically exposed persons.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
