Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai says Ghana still requires a dedicated anti-corruption institution, arguing that the Attorney-General’s Department could easily focus on other offences and still appear effective without prosecuting corruption cases.
Speaking on the matter, he explained that this was a key reason for establishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) — to ensure sustained and targeted attention on corruption-related offences.
“We can look good by prosecuting murder. We can look good by prosecuting armed robbers. We can look good by prosecuting all the other offences and we can justify our budget by doing all these other things — except corruption,” he said.
His remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of the OSP’s prosecutorial authority, following an Accra High Court ruling on April 15, 2026, which declared all ongoing prosecutions by the office null and void and ordered the Attorney-General’s Department to take over the cases.
The ruling has reignited debate over the future of the anti-graft institution and whether constitutional reforms are needed to safeguard its independence.
Dr Srem-Sai maintained that the OSP’s strength lies in its narrow mandate, stressing that the office can only be assessed based on how effectively it tackles corruption.
He noted that unlike the Attorney-General’s Department, which handles a wide range of criminal cases, the Special Prosecutor has no alternative area of success if it fails to deliver on corruption-related prosecutions.
According to him, this focus enhances accountability and underscores the continued relevance of the institution, despite the current legal setback.
The Deputy Attorney-General also assured the public that government’s compliance with the court ruling does not signal any weakening of the fight against corruption.
He reiterated that President John Dramani Mahama remains “100% committed” to ensuring that corruption is tackled across all fronts.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor, established under the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017, was created to strengthen Ghana’s anti-corruption framework. Since its formation, it has handled several high-profile investigations and prosecutions involving public officials and state institutions.