Deputy AG Defends Anti-Corruption Successes as Supreme Court Ruling on OSP Powers Looms

The government of President John Mahama has reaffirmed the efficacy of its anti-corruption agenda, with Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, confirming that the 'Operation Recover All Loot' (ORAL) initiative remains active and successful. This assertion follows the high-profile conviction of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi. Wontumi was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison for illegal mining activities, a verdict the Deputy AG cites as evidence of the initiative's commitment to swift justice. However, the sentencing has sparked a heated national debate regarding the pace of politically sensitive prosecutions and the perceived 'fast-tracking' of cases involving opposition figures.

Simultaneously, a significant constitutional showdown is brewing over the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). Dr. Srem-Sai recently emphasized that the OSP was established through ordinary legislation and cannot override the Attorney-General’s exclusive prosecutorial powers under Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution. He argued that any attempt to grant the OSP independent prosecutorial authority would require a formal constitutional amendment rather than simple parliamentary acts. The Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver a definitive ruling on July 29, 2026, regarding the constitutionality of the OSP Act, following a challenge by lawyer Noah Adamtey who claims the current law unlawfully delegates constitutional functions.

In response to the shifting political climate, outspoken legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has offered a scathing critique of the NPP’s current predicament, suggesting the party may remain in opposition until 2040. Kpebu noted that allegations of the judiciary operating in 'ambulance mode' for political cases are a cyclical phenomenon in Ghana, typically voiced by whichever party has recently lost power. He further argued that while judicial reforms are necessary, they will be ineffective without judges of high integrity and character. Kpebu urged Ghanaians to move beyond legalistic changes and demand personal accountability from those administering justice, asserting that the character of the bench is the ultimate safeguard against political interference.

Adding a legislative perspective to the discourse, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called on the Supreme Court to avoid both 'constitutional overreach' and 'excessive timidity.' During a lecture marking the judiciary's 150th anniversary, Bagbin stressed the need for a coherent jurisprudence that protects democratic institutions while preparing for future challenges like AI and climate change. This broader call for institutional balance aligns with recent political commentary advocating for justice to be used as a tool for national healing rather than a weapon of revenge. As the Mahama administration proceeds with its recovery efforts, the focus remains on whether these processes will ultimately strengthen Ghana’s social cohesion or deepen its political divisions.