Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has openly criticised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), accusing the institution of failing to show seriousness in the fight against corruption.
Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show on December 8, Manasseh said that although Ghana needs an independent body to prosecute corruption-related offences, the OSP has so far failed to live up to its mandate.
“I sincerely believe that we need an independent office to prosecute corruption,” he said. “But knowing what I know today, if I were a corrupt person, I would fear ORAL and EOCO more than I would fear the OSP.”
According to Manasseh, several cases under the OSP’s watch point to institutional weakness and a lack of urgency. He cited one case he described as less complex than the controversial SML matter, which has seen no meaningful progress since it was first petitioned in 2019.
“This is just one example of a case that is less complex than the SML thing. Since 2019, nothing much has really happened,” he stated.
He further referenced public comments by Deputy Special Prosecutor Sammy Darko, who reportedly confirmed that the OSP went to court without conducting its own criminal investigations, relying instead on findings from external bodies.
Manasseh revealed that Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng personally told him that the OSP proceeded to court based on investigations conducted by CHRAJ and journalists, and not by the office itself.
“That he is now considering ordering a fresh investigation or even withdrawing the case suggests that even after going to court for the second time, no proper investigation was done,” Manasseh argued.
He stressed that delays in the A.B. Adjei case cannot be blamed on the courts or defence lawyers, but rather on the OSP itself.
“If this case is taking this long and it is not because of the court or the lawyers, then it is because the OSP itself is frustrating the case,” he said, adding that such conduct does not demonstrate commitment to fighting corruption.
Despite his strong criticism, Manasseh maintained that the OSP is still necessary but must operate without excuses.
“My suggestion is that the office should be kept. But we shouldn’t accept these excuses that Ken Ofori-Atta’s cousin was in office so nothing could be done,” he said.
He warned that continued justification for inaction could destroy public confidence in the institution.
“This office was not set up only for post-regime accountability,” he cautioned. “If these excuses continue, turning the OSP into an Office of Special Excuses, we will keep spending money on it without any real impact, making it a drain on the national coffers.”
