Mahama Ayariga, Dafeamekpor Introduce Bill to Scrap Office of the Special Prosecutor

A controversial move to abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has emerged in Parliament, with Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor introducing a Private Members’ Bill seeking the full repeal of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (Repeal) Bill, 2025, dated December 8, 2025, proposes returning full prosecutorial authority over corruption cases to the Attorney-General, in accordance with Article 88 of the Constitution.

According to the memorandum accompanying the Bill, the OSP’s operations over the past eight years have revealed structural and constitutional challenges that undermine its effectiveness. The lawmakers argue that the dual-prosecutor system, with the OSP operating alongside the Attorney-General, has created institutional friction, overlapping jurisdiction, and delays in criminal proceedings, producing inefficiencies rather than strengthening anti-corruption efforts.

The Bill also cites high operational costs with limited demonstrable impact, fragmentation in national prosecutorial policy, and challenges in maintaining long-term institutional capacity due to parallel administrative systems.

If passed, the repeal would consolidate all anti-corruption prosecutions under the Attorney-General’s Office, with a specialised anti-corruption division handling cases previously overseen by the OSP. Sponsors say this would enhance efficiency, accountability, and coordination, reduce administrative overheads, improve budgetary control, and enable better deployment of skilled prosecutors and investigators.

Clauses 1 to 4 of the Bill detail the repeal and transitional arrangements, including the formal repeal of Act 959 while preserving existing regulations, instruments, and lawful actions undertaken by the OSP. Transitional costs are expected to be absorbed within current budget allocations.

The introduction of the Bill is expected to trigger intense national debate on Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has described calls to scrap the OSP as premature, urging the public to give the institution more time to deliver on its mandate.