The Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, has expressed his growing scepticism about the effectiveness of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in the fight against corruption.

Once a staunch advocate for the institution, he now admits that his optimism has significantly diminished.

Speaking at the Constitution Day Public Lecture, Professor Prempeh reflected on his role in the establishment of the OSP, a body originally designed to function independently and combat corruption free from political interference.

However, he lamented that despite its intended purpose, the office has been hindered by systemic and institutional obstacles, severely limiting its impact.

“We were very hopeful that this initiative would be effective. But over time, I must admit that I have become one of those sceptics regarding the utility of our efforts,” he stated. His growing disillusionment, he explained, stems from the many structural barriers that have prevented the OSP from achieving its mandate.

While he has not explicitly called for its dissolution, he acknowledged that his frustration mirrors that of the current Special Prosecutor.

Professor Prempeh further noted that the responsibility for addressing these shortcomings has now been redirected to his Constitutional Review Committee, a development he finds ironic.

“I thought we were designing this office to solve a problem that could not be entirely addressed within the four corners of the constitution. And now, quite cleverly, I find myself and my committee tasked with finding constitutional solutions to the very issues the OSP was meant to resolve,” he remarked.