Private legal practitioner Vickie Bright has strongly defended the independence and actions of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), asserting that its ongoing investigations into high-profile individuals, including former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, are in line with its mandate and should not be dismissed as politically motivated.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Monday, June 23, Ms Bright — a former Deputy Minister of State at the Presidency and advisor to former President John Agyekum Kufuor — stressed that accountability for public officials must transcend political affiliations.
Her comments come amid heightened public scrutiny over the OSP’s activities, particularly the recent Interpol Red Notice issued for Mr Ofori-Atta, who served as Finance Minister for seven years under the previous administration.
The Red Notice, issued at the OSP’s request, seeks to locate and provisionally arrest Mr Ofori-Atta following his failure to appear for questioning on corruption-related allegations.
Interpol Red Notices are issued for fugitives wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence in connection with serious crimes such as fraud and are subject to strict compliance with Interpol’s legal criteria.
The OSP’s move has sparked criticism from some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who describe the development as a political witch-hunt.
But Ms Bright disagreed.
“I don’t see any political colouration in the way he [the Special Prosecutor] is going about his business. If you look at his mandate, he’s just fulfilling it, and he should be allowed to do so,” she stated.
Established in 2018 under Act 959, the OSP is an independent anti-corruption agency tasked with investigating and prosecuting specific cases involving public officers, politically exposed persons, and private individuals.
While refraining from making direct accusations, Ms Bright underscored the importance of accountability for public officials.
“I’m not saying that Ken [Ofori-Atta] is corrupt or otherwise because I don’t know the full facts. But what I am saying is that if you’re a public official, you swore an oath, you controlled public finances over an eight-year period, and you are required to answer questions — then you should make it easy to answer those questions.”
She further emphasized the heightened responsibility that comes with holding public office.
“Once you occupy any public office, you have actually agreed to greater scrutiny than would be on you or me.”
This increased scrutiny, she added, does not negate fundamental human rights but requires a higher degree of transparency.
Addressing criticisms that the OSP’s actions may be aimed at job security or driven by personal interest, Ms Bright dismissed such claims outright.
“This question about trying to protect his job — he’s a lawyer, for God’s sake. He can work anywhere. He can always earn a living as a lawyer. So let’s not reduce the discourse to that level.”
She highlighted the seriousness of Interpol Red Notices and the rigorous standards they follow.
“Interpol is not in the business of just naming people willy-nilly because someone told them to. There are certain conditions you have to meet before they put you on that list. It’s a very serious matter. So the fact that they’ve deemed it fit that Ken should qualify to be on that list also speaks volumes,” she noted.
Ms Bright also stressed that the OSP is not acting in isolation.
“In any event, it’s not just the OSP. My understanding is that there are other security agencies that would also like to have a chat with Ken.”
This, she said, suggests a broader, multi-agency approach to accountability — reinforcing the notion that investigations are based on facts, not politics.
She cautioned against passing premature judgment on the OSP’s performance and acknowledged past difficulties faced by anti-corruption institutions.
“So this is a government that I see as willing to support the fight against corruption. Let us see how the OSP performs when given a free hand to work. If it still can’t deliver, then we can have that conversation.”