Kissi Agyebeng calls for constitutional backing as OSP faces political threats

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has cautioned that ongoing political interference continues to undermine the work of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), noting that the institution is often targeted by individuals seeking to weaken its authority.

Speaking at a national dialogue on the OSP’s focus on Tuesday, March 31, Agyebeng indicated that the office’s survival has partly relied on the backing of President John Dramani Mahama. He suggested that without such support, the institution might have been dissolved, especially amid reports that the parliamentary Majority had prepared a bill to abolish it.

He explained that many politicians perceive the OSP as a threat to their interests, leaving it exposed to persistent efforts aimed at limiting its powers and operations. According to him, this situation underscores the urgent need for stronger support from the public and civil society to protect the office’s independence.

Agyebeng further emphasized that the effectiveness and continued existence of the OSP should not depend on the discretion or goodwill of any sitting president. Instead, he called for firm constitutional safeguards to ensure its autonomy and long-term stability.

“We must build this office for the ages,” he said, warning that future leaders of the institution should be focused on fighting corruption, not on defending its existence.