The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the institution established to lead Ghana’s anti-corruption fight, is itself facing a high-stakes lawsuit alleging human rights abuses and extortion.
The move casts a shadow over the credibility of the Kissi Agyebeng-led office, which has been investigating a GH¢1.3 billion scandal involving the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
The suit was filed at an Accra High Court on August 14, 2025, by Jacob Kwamina Amuah, one of the seven suspects in the NPA case. Amuah, a former Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), is seeking punitive and compensatory damages from the OSP, the National Investigations Bureau (NIB)/National Security, his former lawyer, and a former opposition politician.
According to court documents, the case hinges on a conspiracy between the state security apparatus and private individuals to unlawfully detain Amuah and extort money from him.
Amuah alleges that his former lawyer, Kwabena Adjei-Boahene, and Edgar Asamoah Boateng, an alleged national security operative, orchestrated his arrest and detention.
Amuah claims that after the OSP announced its investigation in February, Adjei-Boahene a friend from the petroleum sector contacted him and offered to be his legal representative.
Amuah was then introduced to Boateng, who allegedly posed as a National Security operative. The two men promised to “resolve” the investigation and lodged Amuah in a “safe house” at Crystal Homes in Accra.
The setup, according to Amuah’s affidavit, was a ruse. He was arrested on February 15 by NIB officers and detained for over 48 hours without being informed of the reason for his arrest, a clear violation of his rights. He was denied access to family and independent legal representation, and subjected to what he described as “inhuman treatment” by NIB officers.
Crucially, Amuah alleges that his own lawyer, Adjei-Boahene, colluded with NIB and OSP officials. After his unlawful detention, Amuah was transferred to the OSP on February 17. He claims his lawyer directed him to write a “predetermined” caution statement during a five-hour interrogation. Amuah, who claimed to be in poor health at the time, was finally released when he became too ill to continue the interrogation.
The lawsuit demands that the court declare all caution and investigation statements taken during his detention inadmissible in any future proceedings. It also seeks significant financial compensation for the psychological trauma and emotional distress he claims to have suffered, including reimbursement for medical treatment.
This case raises serious questions about the methods employed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. If Amuah’s allegations are proven, it would be a major blow to the OSP’s reputation and could undermine public trust in the country’s fight against graft.