Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng—widely known as A Plus—has mounted a strong defence of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), cautioning against growing calls to dismantle the institution amid criticism of Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.
Speaking during an interview on The KSM Show, the outspoken MP argued that dissatisfaction with the performance or pace of work of a public official does not justify abolishing an entire institution created to combat corruption.
“If we don’t like the Special Prosecutor, there is a process to remove him. But you can’t say that because you are not seeing action, we should scrap the whole Office of the Special Prosecutor,” he stated.
To drive home his point, A Plus drew a comparison with national security institutions, insisting that institutional shortcomings must be fixed—not erased.
“There is armed robbery in Ghana, so should we abolish the Ghana Police Service because they haven’t stopped it? Arrest the criminals—how does abolishing the institution solve anything?” he questioned.
OSP Still a Powerful Deterrent
According to the Gomoa Central MP, the very existence of the OSP plays a critical role in discouraging corrupt behaviour, even when prosecutions are not always visible to the public.
“Just having that office alone may deter people from engaging in some corrupt activities,” he noted.
Rather than scrapping the office, A Plus believes the national conversation should focus on strengthening it. “There are many areas where the Office of the Special Prosecutor can be reinforced to function better,” he added.
He linked this position to President John Dramani Mahama’s campaign promise to intensify the fight against corruption.
“Throughout the campaign, John Mahama was clear that the office must be strengthened because he wants to fight corruption,” A Plus said.
Doubts About Replacing the OSP
The MP also questioned arguments suggesting that the Attorney-General’s Department could fully assume the responsibilities of the OSP, citing longstanding inefficiencies within the justice system.
“Has the Attorney-General’s office been able to prosecute everyone? There are cases where people go to court and are told the Attorney-General is not available,” he remarked.
Criticism of Martin Kpebu
A Plus further criticised senior lawyer Martin Kpebu for his sustained public attacks on the Special Prosecutor—actions that eventually led to his arrest after an OSP invitation for questioning.
While expressing personal respect for the lawyer, the MP was firm in his disapproval.
“I like Martin Kpebu, but he must be careful not to act like an educated Chairman Wontumi under John Mahama. Some of the things he did were wrong,” he said.
Warning to Government
The independent MP also issued a caution to the current government, urging prudence and strategic governance after spending years in opposition.
“The government must be very careful. Eight years in opposition was not easy, and they must not take power lightly,” he warned.
A Plus’ remarks come amid intense national debate over the independence, relevance, and future of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, adding a strong parliamentary voice in favour of reforming and strengthening the institution rather than abolishing it.
