Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga says he and the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, will revisit their decision to introduce a private member's bill to scrap the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), after President John Mahama urged them to suspend the move.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, December 12, Mr Ayariga confirmed that the private member’s bill aimed at repealing the law establishing the OSP had already been approved by the Committee on Private Member’s Bills and was ready to be laid before the house.

He noted that discussions in Parliament initially suggested a bipartisan openness to reviewing the existence of the OSP office.

“Indeed, it is true that we raised the issue in this chamber. There were comments on both sides of the House, and there appeared to be some consensus about dealing with the office by way of reconsidering the existence of the office," he said.

According to him, the Speaker subsequently encouraged Members who felt strongly about the OSP’s future to take the appropriate legislative steps. This, he said, prompted him, along with the Majority Chief Whip, to formally submit the bill, which was approved for laying.

However, he revealed that a public statement by President Mahama on Thursday had prompted him to reconsider.

“It is true also that yesterday there was a statement, not a letter by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, requesting that I reconsider my decision,” Mr Ayariga said.

• Read also: Withdraw anti-OSP bill – President Mahama tells Majority leadership

“So if His Excellency the President also has some thoughts about it, and I add mine to his, I believe together we can find a better way of managing the situation. I can assure you that I’ll take on board the request by His Excellency the President… and we will reconsider our decision.”

His remarks come after the President publicly opposed calls to close the OSP, describing such proposals as premature.

President Mahama said the office remains crucial because it is the only anti-corruption institution with independent prosecutorial authority, unlike the Attorney General, whom many perceive as politically constrained.

A statement issued on Thursday, December 11, by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, confirmed the President’s position.

“President John Dramani Mahama has requested the Majority Leader and Majority Chief Whip in Parliament to withdraw the Private Member’s Bill tabled for the repeal of the Act establishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” the statement said.

• Read also: It’s premature to call for the scrapping of OSP – President Mahama

It added that the President “reiterates his call on the Office of the Special Prosecutor to do more to boost public confidence in its work and frontally tackle corruption.”

Before making that formal request, Mahama had already said publicly that the OSP should be strengthened, not abolished, and encouraged the office to fast-track investigations and deliver more visible results.