President John Dramani Mahama Directs Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor to Withdraw OSP Repeal Bill

President John Dramani Mahama has directed Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Majority Chief Whip Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor to withdraw a Private Member’s Bill seeking to repeal the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) Act.

The directive follows the President’s recent public endorsement of the OSP as an essential pillar in Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture.

Speaking during a meeting with the National Peace Council, President Mahama described the proposal to abolish the OSP as “premature,” insisting that ongoing reforms must focus on strengthening—not dismantling—the office.

“I think it is premature to call for the scrapping of the Office of the Special Prosecutor. We should give them time, and I urge the office to speed up with its work,” he said, urging the OSP to enhance its efficiency and expedite investigations to restore public trust.

The contentious repeal bill, filed on December 8, 2025, sought to return full prosecutorial authority over corruption-related cases to the Attorney-General. Its sponsors, Ayariga and Dafeamekpor, argued that the OSP has been hampered by constitutional constraints, overlapping mandates, and high operational costs since its establishment eight years ago.

However, critics—including President Mahama—maintain that abolishing the OSP could weaken Ghana’s governance and transparency efforts. They argue that the office remains a vital independent mechanism for tackling corruption.

Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed the President’s intervention and reiterated government’s commitment to reinforcing anti-corruption institutions.

“The President believes strengthening the OSP is key to the broader national fight against corruption,” he said.

With the President’s directive, attention now shifts to Parliament, where sponsors of the bill are expected to formally withdraw the proposal in the coming days.