This Saturday on Newsfile, Ghana’s democratic architecture faces pressure from within and without: an election rerun that critics say undermines legal process; a constitutional watchdog office in the crosshairs of repeal efforts; and voices on all sides asking whether we are strengthening governance or weakening it.
We begin in the Kpandai Constituency, where the Electoral Commission has now formally announced December 30, 2025, as the date for a parliamentary rerun following a High Court ruling that annulled the 2024 result. Only the three original candidates will contest, as the EC confirms.
But the decision to set a date while legal challenges remain unresolved has ignited controversy. Former Vice-President and NPP presidential hopeful Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has urged a halt to the rerun, warning that acting before all court processes conclude risks undermining Ghana’s democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minority Leader has urged Parliament to withdraw its notice to the EC on the seat vacancy, calling the action “premature, illegal and cynical” a direct assault on the separation of powers. Public-interest groups are also sounding the alarm, contending that repeated reruns erode confidence and impose avoidable costs on the public purse.
Against this backdrop of electoral tension, attention shifts to Parliament’s move on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). A Private Member’s Bill seeking to repeal the OSP and transfer all corruption prosecutorial authority back to the Attorney-General has sparked widespread debate.
The sponsors argue the change would align prosecutorial authority with constitutional Article 88 and reduce institutional overlap.
President John Dramani Mahama has publicly pushed back, urging the Majority Leader and Chief Whip to withdraw the repeal bill, calling the calls for abolition “premature” and underscoring the importance of a strong, independent anti-corruption institution.
Supporters of the President’s stance including civil-society groups like CDD-Ghana say the OSP is a critical pillar in the fight against corruption.
But critics in Parliament including the First Deputy Minority Whip counter that the President has no authority to instruct how Parliament conducts its business, and that the bill’s sponsors acted within their rights. Transparency International Ghana has also weighed in, rejecting calls to scrap the OSP as “unnecessary and premature” and urging a focus on strengthening, not dismantling, the office.
This Saturday on Newsfile, join Samson Lardy Anyenini this Saturday at 9 a.m. on JoyNews, Joy 99.7 FM, and MyJoyOnline we unpack not just what is happening, but why it matters: What does the Kpandai rerun mean for the rule of law? Is rushing the process a threat to democratic norms, or a necessary compliance with court orders? What would abolishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor mean for Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture, and who stands to gain or lose?
More broadly, can our democratic institutions withstand internal strains and external pressures without eroding public faith?
Newsfile airs live on the JoyNews channel on digital satellite channels 421 on DSTV and 144 on GoTV, and streams on JoyNews’ Facebook or YouTube channels on Saturdays from 9 am to noon.
Viewers can also follow the discussion by tuning in to Joy 99.7 FM or Luv 99.5 FM on the radio or stream the discussion live on either Google or Apple Podcasts.
Newsfile is your most authoritative news analysis programme.
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