The host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, has stated that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) appears uneasy about the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which he says operates with a level of independence from political influence.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, he argued that the party’s current posture towards the OSP is driven less by legal interpretation and more by discomfort with how firmly the office enforces anti-corruption laws.
He referenced ongoing public and legal debates over the mandate of the OSP, including a case before the Supreme Court challenging aspects of its legal foundation and prosecutorial authority.
According to Adom-Otchere, the NDC did not raise objections to the OSP while in opposition, including during the vetting of Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine. He, however, noted a change in position now that the party is in government.
“The reason why they are complaining about the OSP now is because of the OSP’s indicative independence to politicians. They saw the OSP do it to the NPP, they enjoyed it. They have seen that this OSP is not shifting. He will do it to NDC and they are afraid,” he said.
His comments come after a High Court in Accra directed the Attorney-General to take over all criminal prosecutions initiated by the OSP, on the basis that the office lacks the authority to independently prosecute criminal cases.
The development also comes amid an ongoing legal challenge filed by private citizen Noah Adamtey against the Attorney-General, questioning the constitutional scope of the OSP’s powers. The suit argues that prosecutorial authority under the Constitution rests solely with the Attorney-General under Article 88.
The case has intensified national debate over Ghana’s anti-corruption framework, with the Supreme Court expected to determine the legal boundaries between the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Attorney-General’s Department.
