The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has recorded its first set of convictions since it began operations in 2018, a milestone achievement in Ghana’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts.
According to Joy News, the OSP has secured seven convictions, all through plea bargaining arrangements. Six of these convictions stem from payroll fraud in the Northern Region, while the seventh involves a co-accused in the ongoing prosecution of Charles Bissue, the former secretary of the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining.
The unnamed second accused in Bissue’s case is reportedly cooperating with prosecutors, providing potential leverage in the pursuit of more high-profile convictions.
The convictions come amid a significant surge in activity at the OSP. In just the first half of 2025, the office has opened 70 new investigations, marking a sharp departure from its earlier sluggish pace. For context, the OSP initiated only two cases in 2020 and 2021 respectively, 13 in 2022, 19 in 2023, and 27 in 2024. This year’s increase brings the cumulative total to over 130 cases.
Despite these recent gains, critics remain cautious. Alfred Appiah, an applied economist and data analyst, pointed to previous performance lapses, saying, “According to its own framework, the office aimed to complete 40 investigations in 2024 but managed only two. It also failed to initiate any of its planned two prosecutions.”
He emphasized the need for “tangible results” to justify the GH¢146 million allocation the OSP received in the 2025 budget, adding, “Ghanaians are tired of drama — we want convictions and accountability.”
The office, led by Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, is currently pursuing several high-profile cases, including:
- The Ken Ofori-Atta probe involving the former Finance Minister
- The GRA-SML revenue scandal
- Investigations into Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former CEO of the National Petroleum Authority
- These cases are being closely watched as tests of the OSP’s resolve to tackle corruption at the highest levels of power.
Understanding Ghana’s Plea Bargaining System
Ghana formally adopted plea bargaining in 2022 after Parliament passed an amendment to the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30). Under the law, accused persons can negotiate with prosecutors to accept guilt in exchange for reduced sentences or leniency.
Relevant legal provisions include:
- Section 239 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act
- Section 35 of the Courts Act, 1993
- Section 71 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017
- Section 47 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020
The introduction of plea bargaining is seen as a way to speed up justice delivery and lessen the burden on the courts, especially in financial and corruption-related cases.
Ghana’s Corruption Challenge
While this development offers a glimmer of hope, Ghana still struggles with its corruption perception. In 2024, the country scored 43 out of 100 in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, ranking 70 out of 180 countries — showing no significant improvement from previous years.
President John Mahama, who has vowed to crack down on corruption in his second term, will be expected to support reforms and enhance the independence of anti-graft agencies.
For many Ghanaians, these first convictions may finally signal the start of long-awaited accountability — but they will be watching closely to see if the OSP can sustain this momentum.
