A coalition of 12 civil society organisations (CSOs) has announced plans to apply to the Supreme Court as amicus curiae in a case concerning the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The group, represented by activist and legal practitioner Oliver Barker-Vormawor of Merton & Everett, said it will file a “friend of the court” brief in the case involving Noah Adamtey, currently before the apex court, to support the constitutionality of the OSP.
The move, according to the coalition, reflects growing concern among civil society actors over what they describe as attempts to weaken the country’s anti-corruption framework.
Addressing the media, representatives of the coalition argued that any move to strip the OSP of its prosecutorial authority would undermine efforts to combat corruption and promote accountability in public office.
They maintained that the OSP was established as an independent institution with the mandate to both investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences, particularly those involving politically exposed persons.
The coalition warned that limiting these powers could weaken the institution and erode public confidence in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts.
They further noted that the case before the Supreme Court has significant implications for governance, transparency, and the rule of law, cautioning that any ruling that restricts the OSP’s mandate could reverse years of reform efforts.
Meanwhile, the Director of Policy Advocacy and Engagement at CDD-Ghana, Kojo Asante, said attention should be focused on strengthening the OSP rather than curtailing its powers.
“If we were even worried about legality issues, we have the constitutional review process to resolve them, so what is the hurry, what is the rush? So we are clear in our minds that there is nothing unconstitutional about it. What, of course, we had all agreed on was that when a constitutional review process came around, we would elevate the OSP to a constitutional body,” he said.
The coalition includes the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), IMANI Africa, Transparency International Ghana, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), the Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), and NORSAAC.