Notice: This tracker documents major legal, political, administrative and parliamentary action that have affected, challenged, or sought to redefine the mandate, powers, independence, or leadership of the Office of the Special Prosecutor since 2021.
The purpose is to provide a publicly accessible historical record for researchers, journalists, policymakers, and citizens:
Inclusion does not imply illegality, misconduct, or bad faith by any actor.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor was established under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) as an independent institution to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences involving public officers and politically exposed persons, separate from the ordinary criminal justice chain.
The OSP's independence means it can initiate and conduct prosecutions without requiring prior authorisation from the Attorney-General. This is the core constitutional question in several suits — whether Act 959's conferral of such powers is consistent with Articles 88(3) and 88(4) of the 1992 Constitution.
The Attorney-General is Ghana's principal public prosecutor under the Constitution. The OSP operates alongside — not under — the AG on corruption matters. Critics argue this creates a constitutional overlap; supporters argue it is a necessary structural safeguard against politically influenced prosecutorial decisions.
Each entry represents an action that, if successful, would have curtailed, suspended, or abolished the OSP's independent mandate. Understanding these patterns is important for assessing the institutional health of Ghana's anti-corruption architecture.
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