Andy Kankam, Managing Editor of The Informer Newspaper, has called on Ghanaians to rally behind the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in its efforts to combat corruption, stressing that the institution remains a critical pillar in the country’s accountability framework.
Speaking on ongoing legal and constitutional issues involving the Attorney General’s office and the OSP on Kessben Maakye show, Mr. Kankam noted that the Special Prosecutor’s office was established in 2018 specifically to strengthen Ghana’s anti-corruption drive.
According to him, the OSP was nominated through the Attorney General’s office and approved by Parliament upon the President’s recommendation, with its operations guided by the relevant legal instruments.
He recalled concerns raised in the past over the office’s resourcing challenges, referencing former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu’s claims that the institution was not adequately supported through budgetary allocations.
Mr. Kankam further indicated that until 2025, the OSP had struggled with the release of funds, despite handling what he described as an enormous number of cases.
He argued that for the office to effectively execute its mandate, it must be allowed to operate independently and without unnecessary institutional interference.
“We should all support the OSP to deliver because we want to fight corruption,” he stated.
He also questioned the implications of legal challenges against the prosecutorial powers of the OSP, asking what would become of the cases already initiated if those powers are curtailed in court.
Mr. Kankam maintained that some executive institutions have struggled to deliver effectively due to structural limitations, adding that the OSP was created as an independent body to address such gaps.
Touching on public trust in governance institutions, he referenced remarks made by the President His Excellency John Dramani Mahama during a meeting with the National Peace Council last year, suggesting that confidence in the Attorney General’s office remains low among sections of the public because of perceived inefficiencies in handling cases involving politically exposed persons.
He concluded by urging stakeholders to strengthen institutions like the OSP rather than weaken them, if Ghana is serious about winning the fight against corruption.
