Convenor of the One Ghana Movement, Senyo Hosi, has issued a sharp warning to Parliament, insisting that the public will fiercely resist any attempt to dissolve the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
His warning follows renewed debate over the relevance of the OSP after Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga on December 4 proposed that the institution be scrapped and its functions returned to the Attorney-General. Ayariga argued that despite substantial investment, the OSP has “failed to deliver the expected results,” while the Attorney-General’s Office continues to be under-resourced.
The controversy has deepened with a petition from private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu urging President John Mahama to dismiss Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng over recent allegations made against him.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Saturday, December 12, Mr. Hosi urged national leaders to distinguish between dissatisfaction with current officeholders and the fundamental purpose the OSP was created to serve.
“We should be able to separate the effectiveness of the person who is there from the policy value of the office,” he said. “If anyone wants the OSP scrapped, what exactly do they intend to replace it with?”
While acknowledging that reforms may be necessary, he stressed that the core rationale behind establishing the OSP remains vital to Ghana’s democracy.
“We cannot discard the policy objective,” he noted. “We can refine it or build a more potent framework for the office, but its policy value must not be lost.”
Mr. Hosi added that any legal or structural shortcomings should be corrected through proper legislative measures instead of abandoning the institution altogether.
“If there are legal gaps, fix them. But the way these discussions are going makes it seem like some political actors simply do not want any form of oversight over what they do.”
He emphasized that the demand for accountability comes from citizens, not political convenience.
“Policy lives in the realm of politics, but its purpose is the people,” he said. “Ghanaians want accountability — independent accountability. Parliament should hear this clearly: we will not allow politicians to tamper with the policy intent of the OSP. And those trying to ride on Martin Kpebu’s concerns to push this agenda should forget it. Even he is not against the policy behind the OSP.”
