Private legal practitioner Ace Ankomah has proposed a new set of recommendations aimed at strengthening the autonomy and effectiveness of Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), amid renewed debates over whether the institution should continue or be dissolved.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View, Ankomah addressed concerns from Parliament and the public about the future of the OSP, suggesting a review of Article 88(3) and (4) of the Constitution, which outline the prosecutorial functions of the Attorney-General.
He observed that the Attorney-General’s Department, which previously handled corruption and economic crime before the creation of the OSP, has long struggled with the complexities of high-level cases.
“In my view, Parliament passing the OSP Act is the biggest concession that, when it comes to corruption and corruption-related offences, the AG’s office has not done well,” he said, highlighting the sophisticated nature of economic crimes and the robust legal defenses often deployed by accused individuals.
Ankomah proposed combining the purpose behind the OSP with the institutional stability of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the criminal prosecution arm under the Attorney-General. A central part of his argument is the need for a politically insulated prosecutorial authority.
“We cannot trust any government with criminal prosecutions because we see that it favours their friends,” he stated, citing instances where incoming administrations quickly issued nolle prosequi orders to halt ongoing prosecutions—actions he said undermine public confidence in the justice system.
His recommendation involves detaching the entire criminal prosecution division of the Attorney-General’s office and merging it with the OSP and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to establish a fully independent National Prosecutions Authority.
Ankomah emphasized that the proposed authority should be led by a civil servant and enjoy judicial-grade independence, secure tenure, financial autonomy, and strong protection from political interference.
“Yes, the police will still investigate crime, but this office will be the authority to prosecute so that we can be sure there is minimal political interference,” he added.
