The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has called on the Ministry of Finance to review the substantial budget allocation given to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), citing concerns about the institution’s effectiveness in combating corruption.
Addressing Parliament on Thursday, December 4, Bagbin noted that the OSP receives nearly the same level of funding as the Attorney-General’s Department but has yet to demonstrate meaningful impact.
“We wanted to signal to the world that we are going to fight corruption. At the end of the day, we have seen the results, and we cannot continue to allocate huge sums to the same office when we are not getting results,” he said.
Emphasising accountability, the Speaker urged government officials and lawmakers to address the issue decisively.
“Please, let’s face the bull by the horns and make sure the right thing is done. I agree with the Majority Leader, and as we go through this, the Finance Minister [should take notice],” he added.
Bagbin’s remarks echo concerns previously raised by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who has advocated for the complete abolition of the OSP, insisting that corruption cases should be handled solely by the Attorney-General’s Office. Ayariga argued that despite the OSP’s sizeable budget, it has not delivered results comparable to the under-resourced AG’s Department.
