A Milestone in Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Fight as Office of the Special Prosecutor First Convictions Are Secured
After years of scrutiny and public doubt, Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has finally secured its first legal victories—achieving seven convictions since its creation in 2018. These mark the first tangible outcomes under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) and come in the wake of increased enforcement activity and public pressure for accountability.
Years of Funding with Limited Results
Since inception, the OSP has received over GH¢1 billion in funding, including GH¢146 million in the 2025 national budget. Despite this, the office had long failed to deliver meaningful outcomes, triggering criticism about its efficiency and purpose. Early concerns centered around the irregular disbursement of funds, but by 2024, those bottlenecks had largely been resolved—yet results remained sparse until now.
Convictions Focused on Payroll Fraud and Illegal Mining
Of the seven convictions achieved so far, six relate to payroll fraud in Ghana’s Northern Region. The seventh involves the high-profile case of Charles Bissue, former secretary of the disbanded Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining. While Bissue’s trial continues, the second accused in that case has already pleaded guilty and is assisting with prosecution efforts.
2025 Sees Unprecedented Uptick in Investigations
The first half of 2025 has brought a surge in activity. The OSP initiated 70 new investigations, far exceeding past annual figures. For comparison, the office launched just two cases in both 2020 and 2021, 13 cases in 2022, 19 in 2023, and 27 in 2024. Since launching operations, the OSP has now opened over 133 investigations.
Ongoing cases include probes into former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, the GRA–SML contract tied to Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, and former NPA boss Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid. These reflect a broader shift toward tackling high-profile corruption.
Public Expectations Remain High Amid Mixed Progress
Despite recent achievements, Ghana’s score on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) fell again—from 43 in 2023 to 42 in 2024. This decline continues a downward trajectory since a high of 48 in 2014. Although the OSP has recovered over GH¢4 million for the state and shown the ability to close cases through plea deals, critics argue that the results remain modest for an institution seven years in the making.
The pressure now is to move beyond smaller cases and prosecute influential figures, delivering justice that reflects the scale of public investment and national expectations.
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