(Office for Stalled Prosecution Services)
…A ‘Canned Fridge’ for Corruption…
By TNR front desk
Since its launch in 2018, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has become nothing more than a glorified fridge for corruption cases, freezing them in place instead of bringing culprits to justice.
Despite being entrusted with prosecuting high-profile corruption, the OSP has failed to secure a single conviction.
An investigation by The New Republic (TNR) has uncovered that the OSP has identified at least 67 cases worthy of investigation and prosecution. However, all these cases are currently stalled, with 17 of them officially classified as “stone-cold.”
This inaction has only solidified the public perception of the OSP as a wasteful paper tiger.
The Big Chill: Naming the Frozen Cases
Among the most shocking of these stalled cases are several involving prominent political figures and their associates:
* The Republic vs. Kwabena Owusu Aduomi: This case involves former Ejisu MP, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, who openly admitted on live television that he paid GHS 5,000 to each of the 600 NPP delegates during his re-election campaign.
* The Republic vs. Estate of Kofi Owusu Afriyie: This investigation concerns the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, also known as Sir John, former CEO of the Forestry Commission.
The case alleges that he and another official, Charles Owusu, stole state lands in the Achimota Forest and Ramsar Site, later selling them to private companies.
* The Republic vs. Emmanuel Owusu Boakye: This case targets Emmanuel Owusu, a Deputy Commissioner of Customs, who was caught with uncustomed luxury vehicles, including a Range Rover, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, stashed at his home instead of a designated customs lot.
* The Republic vs. Hon. Lydia Seyram Alhassan: This case involves former Ayawaso West Wuogon MP, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, who was seen openly bribing delegates during a special NPP election.
* The Republic vs. Hon. Andy Appiah Kubi: This stalled case centers on a businessman’s attempt to bribe some NPP Members of Parliament to withdraw their motion to remove former Finance Minister, Ofori-Atta.
A House Divided: The Inside Scoop
Sources close to the OSP reveal that this inaction isn’t a coincidence—it’s the result of internal turmoil. Insiders point to Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng’s leadership style, which is said to have crippled the office’s most critical units, particularly the investigative division.
The strained relationship between Agyebeng and the Director of Investigations, Basintale, has reportedly created a crisis, grinding progress to a halt.
For an office that has consumed millions of cedis of taxpayers’ money over seven years, its complete failure to deliver justice has made many observers fear it has become a hindrance, not a help, in the fight against corruption.
The public deserves to know if a shakeup is coming to get this office back on track. Will the OSP continue to be a safe haven for the corrupt, or will it finally get to work? More on this story soon.