President John Mahama has opposed calls to shut down the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), stating it is “premature.”
He argued that the office needs more time to fulfill its unique mandate of independently prosecuting corruption cases without going through the Attorney General’s Department.
President Mahama explained that the OSP was created to address public mistrust, as an Attorney General within a government might be reluctant to prosecute fellow officials. He emphasized the importance of an independent body with its own lawyers to ensure accountability and prevent impunity.
Stating his administration’s commitment to strengthening all anti-corruption bodies, including the OSP and EOCO, Mahama linked accountability to preventing governance failures and military takeovers seen in other West African nations. He concluded that while he does not enjoy prosecutions, the public would not forgive a government that allows corruption to go unchecked.