A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Ghana has raised alarm over recent legal developments affecting the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), warning that the situation threatens to derail the country’s anti-corruption efforts.
In a press statement issued on April 20, 2026, the groups expressed concern over actions by the Attorney-General (AG) and rulings by the High Court that challenge the independence of the OSP under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The CSOs pointed specifically to a suit before the Supreme Court involving Noah Adamtey versus the Attorney-General, in which the AG is seeking to declare parts of the OSP law unconstitutional particularly provisions that allow the Special Prosecutor to initiate prosecutions without prior approval from the AG.
The situation escalated following a High Court ruling in Accra on April 15, 2026, which held that the OSP’s prosecutorial powers without the AG’s authorization were unlawful. The court further directed the Attorney-General to take over all ongoing OSP cases and declared previous prosecutions by the OSP null and void.
According to the CSOs, these developments have “immediately jeopardized” the state’s ability to pursue ongoing corruption cases and risk undermining public confidence in the fight against graft.
The coalition argued that calls for an independent public prosecutor in Ghana date back over two decades, rooted in concerns that the Attorney-General being a political appointee may face conflicts of interest when prosecuting members of the sitting government. They noted that this concern was highlighted as far back as 2004 under the Africa Peer Review Mechanism and later incorporated into the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP).
They emphasized that the establishment of the OSP in 2017 was a critical step toward addressing these concerns and fulfilling Ghana’s international obligations under anti-corruption conventions.
Rejecting the Attorney-General’s current position, the CSOs insisted that Act 959 was lawfully enacted and consistent with the 1992 Constitution, particularly Article 88(4), which allows the delegation of prosecutorial powers.
To defend this position, the coalition disclosed that it has authorized its legal representatives to apply to the Supreme Court as amicus curiae to support the constitutionality of the OSP law.
They also criticized the High Court ruling as “ultra vires” and contradictory, noting that a separate High Court had earlier stayed similar proceedings pending the Supreme Court’s determination of the constitutional issues.
Beyond the legal arguments, the CSOs warned that weakening the OSP risks reversing years of progress in strengthening accountability institutions. They stressed that corruption continues to cost Ghana billions of dollars annually and that the country cannot afford to roll back reforms aimed at tackling the menace.
The groups are therefore calling on Ghanaians to remain vigilant and demand the full establishment of an independent public prosecutor through constitutional reforms, as recommended by past review processes.
They concluded by reaffirming their commitment to promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability, while urging citizens to hold government accountable and resist any attempts to undermine anti-corruption institutions.
