BY Daniel Bampoe
President John Dramani Mahama has formally requested the withdrawal of a Private Member’s Bill introduced by his own Majority Leadership seeking to repeal the law establishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The request, conveyed through a statement signed by Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu on Thursday, December 11, 2025, marks a significant turning point in a fast-evolving political controversy that has dominated national discourse for days.
The President’s directive comes barely 24 hours after he publicly defended the continued existence of the OSP during a meeting with the National Peace Council at the Jubilee House.
At that engagement, Mahama stressed that it was “premature” for Ghana to consider abolishing the office, arguing that its prosecutorial independence remains crucial in combating corruption—especially in a system where the Attorney-General is part of the sitting government.
This public stance appeared to contradict the actions of his Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, and Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who earlier filed a Private Member’s Bill seeking the outright repeal of the OSP Act.
That move had sparked widespread confusion and public debate, as many questioned whether there was a rupture within the upper ranks of the governing party or an undisclosed executive-legislative disagreement.
The OSP—From Hope To Controversy
The Office of the Special Prosecutor was established in 2018 with bipartisan support as a bold attempt to strengthen Ghana’s anti-corruption infrastructure. Its creation followed decades of criticism that the Attorney-General’s Department—being directly under the Executive—lacked the independence needed to prosecute politically connected individuals.
The OSP was therefore designed to operate independently, with its own prosecutorial mandate and security of tenure.
Despite the early promise, the office is not moving as expected raising concern about the ballooning budgets with little action to justify.
Over time, frustrations from political actors, civil society, and the public expanded, and calls for reform—and in some cases, abolition—intensified.
Ayariga’s Bill And The Backlash
Against this backdrop, the announcement of a bill to dissolve the OSP immediately inflamed public debate. Some legal analysts criticized the timing, describing it as politically risky and potentially damaging to the reputation in the global anti-corruption arena.
Others argued that the OSP had failed to meet expectations and had become financially burdensome, thereby justifying a legislative rethink.
Yet what perplexed many was the fact that the bill originated from the Majority Caucus—particularly from Ayariga, who, as Leader of Government Business, participates directly in cabinet deliberations.
This fueled speculation that the repeal bid may have been sanctioned or at least known by the Executive.
Mahama’s Intervention
The President’s latest directive seeks to put the controversy to rest and it is seen as an afterthought.
According to the statement from the Presidency, Mahama has instructed the Majority Leadership to withdraw the bill entirely, reaffirming his commitment to strengthening—not dismantling—the OSP.
“The President also reiterates his call on the Office of the Special Prosecutor to do more to boost public confidence in its work and frontally tackle corruption,” the statement noted, highlighting Mahama’s insistence that the OSP must show greater vigour and results.
This marks the first formal, written communication from the Presidency on the matter, and signals an attempt to consolidate government messaging after days of conflicting public signals.
Already three petitions calling for the dismissal of the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, are before the Chief Justice for consideration.
