Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has called for a constitutional solution to address the ongoing controversies surrounding the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View with Bernard Avle on Monday, December 8, Prof. Prempeh said the challenges confronting the OSP cannot be resolved through piecemeal reforms or prolonged litigation. He warned that without a decisive constitutional remedy, the office risks becoming ineffective or eventually disappearing.
He argued that the situation demands a fundamental constitutional rethink, rather than attempts to “renovate around the problem.”
“The problem we’re facing now calls for a constitutional solution. Basically, that is how we can resolve this impasse. If we don’t, we start litigating around it, and the Office will disappear at some point if we don’t solve the problem.
“If we’re serious about solving the problem, there’s no shortage of innovative ideas to deal with it. There are comparative models around; we can innovate our own,” he suggested.
His comments come amid growing calls by the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, and some Members of Parliament for the abolition of the OSP, with responsibilities for investigating and prosecuting corruption-related offences being transferred to the Attorney-General’s Department.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, December 3, Mr. Ayariga questioned the rationale behind what he described as the under-resourcing of the Attorney-General’s Department while significant funds are allocated to the OSP, which he argued has failed to meet public expectations.
The debate over the future of the OSP continues as key stakeholders consider various options to strengthen Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture.
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