President Mahama asks MPs to halt move to abolish Office of the Special Prosecutor

President John Dramani Mahama has requested Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor to suspend their effort to introduce a Private Members’ Bill aimed at abolishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

The announcement came on Thursday, December 11, amid public debate following the drafting of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Repeal) Bill, 2025, which seeks to dismantle the office.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, stated, “President Mahama has requested the Majority Leader and Majority Chief Whip in Parliament to withdraw the Private Member’s Bill tabled for the repeal of the Act establishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor.”

He added that the President made the request after reaffirming his support for strengthening the OSP as a key institution in the fight against corruption during a meeting with the Peace Council.

The statement also urged the OSP to enhance public confidence by tackling corruption more effectively in line with its founding objectives. Previously, President Mahama had indicated that it was premature to dismantle the office, insisting it should be given time to fulfill its mandate.

The proposed bill, dated December 8, 2025, cites structural and constitutional challenges the OSP has faced over eight years, including overlaps with the Attorney-General’s Office, operational inefficiencies, high administrative costs, and limited impact relative to budget allocations.

Supporters of the repeal argue that having two separate prosecutorial bodies has caused jurisdictional overlap, policy fragmentation, and delays in criminal proceedings. They suggest that creating a specialised anti-corruption division within the Attorney-General’s Office would be a more coherent and cost-effective approach.

The bill also includes transitional measures to integrate the OSP’s functions into the Attorney-General’s Office without incurring significant additional costs.