Audio By Carbonatix
This Saturday on Newsfile, Ghana’s democratic architecture faces pressure from within and without: an election rerun that critics say undermines legal process; a constitutional watchdog office in the crosshairs of repeal efforts; and voices on all sides asking whether we are strengthening governance or weakening it.
We begin in the Kpandai Constituency, where the Electoral Commission has now formally announced December 30, 2025, as the date for a parliamentary rerun following a High Court ruling that annulled the 2024 result. Only the three original candidates will contest, as the EC confirms.
But the decision to set a date while legal challenges remain unresolved has ignited controversy. Former Vice-President and NPP presidential hopeful Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has urged a halt to the rerun, warning that acting before all court processes conclude risks undermining Ghana’s democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minority Leader has urged Parliament to withdraw its notice to the EC on the seat vacancy, calling the action “premature, illegal and cynical,” a direct assault on the separation of powers. Public-interest groups are also sounding the alarm, contending that repeated reruns erode confidence and impose avoidable costs on the public purse.
Against this backdrop of electoral tension, attention shifts to Parliament’s move on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). A Private Member’s Bill seeking to repeal the OSP and transfer all corruption prosecutorial authority back to the Attorney-General has sparked widespread debate.
The sponsors argue that the change would align prosecutorial authority with constitutional Article 88 and reduce institutional overlap.
President John Dramani Mahama has publicly pushed back, urging the Majority Leader and Chief Whip to withdraw the repeal bill, calling the calls for abolition “premature” and underscoring the importance of a strong, independent anti-corruption institution.
Supporters of the President’s stance, including civil-society groups like CDD-Ghana, say the OSP is a critical pillar in the fight against corruption.
But critics in Parliament, including the First Deputy Minority Whip, counter that the President has no authority to instruct how Parliament conducts its business, and that the bill’s sponsors acted within their rights. Transparency International Ghana has also weighed in, rejecting calls to scrap the OSP as “unnecessary and premature” and urging a focus on strengthening, not dismantling, the office.
This Saturday on Newsfile, join Samson Lardy Anyenini at 9 a.m. on JoyNews, Joy 99.7 FM, and MyJoyOnline we unpack not just what is happening, but why it matters: What does the Kpandai rerun mean for the rule of law? Is rushing the process a threat to democratic norms, or a necessary compliance with court orders? What would abolishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor mean for Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture, and who stands to gain or lose?
Latest Stories
-
GNFS, Cadet Media launches ‘Fire Service Tales’ to promote safety education
8 minutes -
Minority demands resignation of Ayariga, Dafeamekpor over OSP repeal bill
24 minutes -
NDC doesn’t want the Special Prosecutor after them – John Darko on move to scrap OSP
58 minutes -
Mahama and NDC donate GH₵50,000 to Daddy Lumba’s family
1 hour -
GRA intensifies night market tax enforcement, seals non-compliant business
2 hours -
Trump’s ‘historic’ peace deal for DR Congo shattered after rebels seize key city
2 hours -
Politicians are fighting OSP because they can’t control it – Senyo Hosi
2 hours -
King Charles praised for ‘powerful’ message on early cancer detection
2 hours -
Photos: Fans, family bid final goodbye to Daddy Lumba
2 hours -
Cambodia shuts border crossings with Thailand as fighting continues
2 hours -
One million households without power in Ukraine after Russia attacks energy grid
2 hours -
Cyber Security Authority, National Security arrest 32 in Kasoa-Tuba cybercrime operation
2 hours -
OSP is not luxury but a constitutional necessity -Senyo Hosi
3 hours -
32 Foreigners arrested in Kasoa romance scam bust
3 hours -
Engineer leverages U.S. research to build exportable digital twin frameworks for energy resilience
4 hours
