Ace Ankomah proposes independent National Prosecutions Authority to strengthen OSP

Private legal practitioner Ace Anan Ankomah has put forward proposals to enhance the effectiveness and independence of Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), amid ongoing debate over whether the institution should continue or be scrapped.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, December 8, Mr Ankomah responded to calls from the public and Parliament regarding the OSP’s future. He suggested a constitutional review of Article 88(3) and (4), which define the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney-General.

He argued that the Attorney-General’s Department, which previously handled corruption and economic crimes, has often failed to deliver justice in complex cases. “Parliament passing the OSP Act is the biggest concession that the AG’s office has not done well when it comes to corruption and corruption-related offences,” Ankomah said.

He highlighted challenges such as the complex nature of economic crimes and the strength of legal defenses mounted by accused persons.

To address these issues, Ankomah proposed merging the focus and energy behind the creation of the OSP with the stabilizing structure of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the unit under the AG responsible for criminal prosecutions.

He emphasised the need for a criminal prosecution authority independent of political control, citing instances where incoming governments have discontinued ongoing cases, a practice that erodes public confidence.

Ankomah’s proposal calls for the criminal prosecution wing of the AG’s office to be separated and merged with the OSP and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to form an independent National Prosecutions Authority.

He recommended that the authority be headed by a civil servant and enjoy judicial-quality independence, including security of tenure, financial autonomy, and protection from political interference.

“Yes, the police will still investigate crime, but this office will be the authority to prosecute so that we can be sure there is minimal political interference,” Ankomah added.