Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has criticised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over its handling of issues involving private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, describing the OSP’s recent conduct as legally questionable.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Thursday, Mr. Bentil stressed that while he is aware of ongoing engagements between Mr. Kpebu and the OSP, the circumstances surrounding the matter raise serious concerns that require urgent clarification.

According to him, the OSP must remember that it is a public office created to serve citizens, not an institution meant to intimidate or suppress them.

“We make laws for ourselves. We don't make laws to establish tools for people to oppress us. The OSP must appreciate that it is a public office and is subject to criticism. They are not above the law. Anything they do must be properly grounded in the law. I don't think what is going on is right," he said.

Mr Bentil argued that Mr Kpebu, based on legal grounds, could choose not to cooperate with the OSP if the office fails to demonstrate the lawful basis for its actions.

“Martin is trying to be as law-abiding as possible. It is possible that, given what is going on, he can refuse to cooperate with the OSP because he has no responsibility to do so,” he noted.

He further urged the OSP to act with restraint, pointing out that public opinion appears to be turning against the institution due to its handling of recent matters.

Mr. Bentil emphasised that the OSP operates with delegated authority from the Attorney General and does not possess unlimited prosecutorial powers.

“They don’t have plenary powers to do whatever they want, however they want. So they should clarify what they are doing and ensure it is rooted in clear legal authority.”

Background

The saga between the OSP and Martin Kpebu stems from Kpebu’s persistent public criticism of the OSP’s operations, decisions, and leadership under Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.

Kpebu has repeatedly accused the OSP of abusing its powers, unfairly targeting individuals, and failing to tackle high-level corruption effectively. He has also questioned the legality of some arrests, seizures, and prosecutions made by the office, alleging that the OSP often oversteps its mandate.

The OSP, in response, has consistently pushed back, describing many of Kpebu’s remarks as misleading and inaccurate. The office has issued several statements defending its work and rejecting his accusations.

The confrontation escalated on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, when Kpebu—a private legal practitioner and one of the OSP’s most outspoken critics—was arrested and detained after reporting to the OSP headquarters upon invitation. He had gone there in connection with corruption allegations he himself had filed against the Special Prosecutor.

According to the OSP, the arrest was based on alleged obstruction, claiming Kpebu “insulted security officers” and hindered them from performing their lawful duties. The OSP has insisted the arrest “has nothing to do” with the corruption allegations against Agyebeng, arguing that it was purely a response to misconduct at the premises.