The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has come under heavy criticism from several Members of Parliament for failing to meet its mandate nearly eight years after its establishment.
The MPs have questioned the office’s effectiveness, especially considering the substantial public funds allocated to it over the years.
During discussions on the OSP’s budget estimates on Friday, March 28, MP for Effia, Isaac Boamah Nyarko, raised concerns about the office’s tangible results.
“The OSP has fewer than 250 staff, yet its compensation costs amount to 1.8 million cedis. What is the justification for this? We are cutting budgets for other ministries and agencies, but the OSP continues to pay high compensation for a relatively small team. Why is this the case?” Mr Nyarko asked.
He pointed out that while Legal Aid received 5 million cedis, the OSP had been allocated 32 million cedis for goods and services and 47 million cedis for capital expenditure in previous years.
“Given all the resources allocated to the OSP, what has the office delivered to Ghana in return?” he questioned.
Mr Nyarko also noted that the Special Prosecutor is expected to retain 30% of all recoveries made by the office.
“If the Special Prosecutor works for a year and makes no recoveries, that is a complete failure. If no recoveries are being made, how can we assess the performance of the OSP? The Attorney General is supporting the OSP’s allocation of over 140 million cedis, but we must carefully review these estimates to ensure we get value for money,” he argued.
Nearly eight years since its creation, the OSP has failed to secure a single conviction. Documents presented to the committee indicate that the office currently has only three criminal cases in progress.
MP for Manhyia South, Baffuor Agyei Awuah, also criticized the OSP for failing to fulfill its core mandate.
“It has been eight years since the OSP was established, and there hasn’t been a single conviction. According to the agency’s own documents, it currently has only three criminal cases after all these years. When you examine these cases, it’s clear that the office’s focus has shifted. Why is this the case?” Mr Awuah asked.
He argued that the OSP, which was created to protect the public purse, seems to be straying from its primary mandate.
“It appears that the OSP has shifted its attention to areas like stool lands, which are outside of its mandate,” he added.
Mr Awuah called for a thorough review of the OSP’s performance and budget allocation to ensure that the office delivers on its intended purpose and provides value for money.
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