The United Party (UP) has urged the government to establish a constitutionally-anchored, independent anti-corruption office to replace the current Special Prosecutor, citing structural weaknesses that undermine Ghana’s fight against graft.

In a press release signed by Solomon Owusu, Spokesperson and Director of Communication for the UP, the party expressed concern that current reforms risk weakening the country’s anti-corruption efforts rather than strengthening them.

According to the UP, the fundamental challenge facing the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is not its existence, but its “structural and constitutional fragility.” The party highlighted that under Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution, the Attorney-General remains the sole authority responsible for initiating and conducting all criminal prosecutions. This, they argue, creates a constitutional contradiction that exposes the OSP to legal challenges, fuels institutional conflicts, and diminishes public confidence.

“The nation cannot afford reforms that diminish our resolve to fight graft. A truly independent anti-corruption institution is essential for Ghana to prosecute corruption decisively and fearlessly,” the release stated.

The UP is calling for a forward-looking constitutional amendment to establish an Anti-Corruption Czar with full prosecutorial authority, separate from and not subordinate to the Attorney-General. Such an office, the party contends, would enjoy structural insulation from political influence, national legitimacy, and the authority necessary to tackle corruption at all levels.

Beyond institutional independence, the UP also advocates consolidating Ghana’s fragmented anti-corruption legal and institutional framework.

Legal framework: The party proposes a single, modern Anti-Corruption Act that clearly defines offences, strengthens sanctions, enhances asset recovery, codifies lifestyle audits, and removes legal loopholes that hinder accountability.

Institutional coordination: The UP calls for harmonisation of Ghana’s numerous anti-corruption agencies, including EOCO, CHRAJ, and the Financial Intelligence Centre, to eliminate overlap, improve intelligence sharing, and align investigative functions under a unified national strategy.

Describing Ghana as standing at a critical juncture, the party said the country must either maintain a fragmented and constitutionally weak system or create a coherent, patriotic framework capable of confronting corruption decisively.

“The United Party chooses the latter. Ghana deserves institutions that are grounded in the Constitution and backed by the collective will of the people,” the release affirmed.

The UP reaffirmed its commitment to championing reforms that include:

The constitutional establishment of an Anti-Corruption Czar with independent prosecutorial powers.

The consolidation of all anti-corruption laws into a single, coherent legal framework.

The harmonisation of all anti-corruption agencies into a coordinated national architecture.

“These reforms are not partisan preferences; they are moral and constitutional imperatives necessary for safeguarding the future of our Republic. Ghana’s destiny demands courage, clarity, and conviction,” the release concluded.