President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed mounting calls from sections of the public and some opinion leaders to dissolve the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), describing such demands as hasty and unwarranted.
He appealed for calm and urged Ghanaians to allow the OSP adequate time to pursue its anti-corruption mandate, stressing that swift and credible prosecutions are essential for restoring public confidence.
“I think it’s premature to call for the closure of that office,” President Mahama said.
He noted that the OSP remains the only anti-corruption institution with the independent authority to initiate and prosecute cases without relying on the Attorney-General. This independence, he argued, is vital given the public perception that the Attorney-General—being part of the government—may be reluctant to prosecute political allies.
“People believe the Attorney-General will be very reluctant to prosecute his own,” he said. “But if there is an independent office like the Office of the Special Prosecutor, it won’t matter who you are, because they have security of tenure and the prosecutorial authority to act.”
Speaking at the annual meeting of the Governing Council of the National Peace Council, President Mahama emphasized that it is “too early” to judge the overall effectiveness of the OSP. He encouraged citizens to support the institution rather than undermine it.
He also called on the OSP to expedite its investigations and cases to help rebuild public trust. “People want to see more prosecutions and more results. I will just urge the OSP to speed up some of these investigations and show that the office is still very relevant,” he stated.
Shifting beyond corruption, the President raised concerns about growing intolerance within communities—an issue he warned is contributing to escalating conflicts across the country. He highlighted ongoing chieftaincy, ethnic, and land disputes, noting that these tensions place significant strain on the nation’s security apparatus and present serious governance challenges.
The National Peace Council’s annual meeting serves as a platform for the President to receive updates on national peace, security, and conflict resolution efforts.
