Amid mounting political pressure and a barrage of petitions seeking the removal of the Special Prosecutor, a leading anti-corruption advocate has strongly opposed calls to abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Edem Senanu, Co-Chair of the Citizens Movement Against Corruption (CMaC), instead demanded that policymakers focus on strengthening and reviewing the struggling institution.
Mr. Senanu’s remarks, made on Channel One on Saturday, December 6, follow direct appeals from figures like Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and several Members of Parliament (MPs) to scrap the OSP entirely, arguing that the Attorney-General’s Office should revert to being the sole authority for prosecuting graft cases.
Mr. Senanu described the parliamentary discourse regarding the OSP’s abolition as highly disconcerting, cautioning that dismantling an institution still finding its operational footing would be counterproductive to the nation’s fight against corruption. He advocated for institutional stability over dramatic policy shifts.
“I think reviewing and strengthening the OSP is where I will go. It’s a key institution that has something to offer. If we have politically exposed persons who say we should scrap it, we need to be very cautious. It’s an institution that is being built,” he said.
The CMaC Co-Chair also pointed out the hypocrisy of some MPs now calling for the institution’s dismantling, noting that they had actively supported the law establishing the office years prior.
“I find the comments in Parliament disconcerting because they are politically exposed persons. Some MPs supported the debate during the passage of the law. So to suddenly say that we should throw the baby out with the bathwater is not the way to go,” he added.
He urged policymakers to move away from political maneuvering and commit to structural reforms that improve the OSP’s effectiveness and accountability.
Mr. Senanu’s strong defense comes as the Office of the President deals with at least three separate petitions demanding the removal of Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.
These petitions collectively allege that his continued tenure undermines transparency, accountability, and effective governance.
The key allegations and petitioners are:
- Financial Mismanagement and Lack of Transparency (Simon Yaw Awadzi):
- Submitted by Simon Yaw Awadzi, Executive Chairman of COFIIG.
- Allegation: Mismanagement of over GHS364 million in public funds allocated to the OSP since 2021, coupled with a lack of publicly available audited financial statements.
- Demand: Urges President John Dramani Mahama to initiate removal proceedings under Section 15 of the OSP Act, 2017, and Article 146 of the Constitution.
- Collusion and Disrespect (Apostle Abraham Lincoln Larbi):
- Submitted by Apostle Abraham Lincoln Larbi (who recently led a protest alongside lawyer Martin Kpebu).
- Allegation: The Special Prosecutor colluded with former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to evade accountability and displayed disrespect by refusing to submit the docket on the former Minister to the Attorney-General.
- Procedural Failures in the SML Case (Anonymous Sources):
- Focuses on the high-profile SML contract matter.
- Allegation: The Special Prosecutor allegedly allowed Ken Ofori-Atta to leave the country, failed to use his police powers to arrest him, and misrepresented attempts to secure support from other security agencies.
The confluence of parliamentary opposition and removal petitions has created an existential crisis for the OSP, forcing stakeholders like CMaC to intervene and advocate for the institution’s survival through measured reform rather than outright elimination.
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