Establishing the OSP under the past government was the right move – Abu Jinapor

Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, says the decision by the previous government to create the Office of the Special Prosecutor was a noble step in Ghana’s fight against corruption.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, he urged colleagues not to call for the repeal of the Act that established the office, arguing that the intention behind its creation should not be discarded.

Jinapor reminded the House that he served as Deputy Chief of Staff when the OSP was being set up and was directly involved in the conversations that shaped it.

His comments followed calls from Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who argued that the Attorney General was better positioned to lead the fight against corruption if properly resourced.

The discussion was sparked further by recent events surrounding the arrest and detention of private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu by the OSP.

Kpebu had been invited to assist with investigations into allegations he made against the Special Prosecutor, but was detained after a confrontation with an officer.

He was later granted bail and released, a development that triggered criticism from several MPs.

Speaker Alban Bagbin again questioned the constitutional basis of the OSP, saying the office was created mainly to show the world Ghana’s commitment to fighting corruption.

He noted that after years of operation, the results have not justified the significant sums allocated to the institution.

During the debate, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor accused the OSP of abusing its powers and insisted that the Special Prosecutor must appear before Parliament to explain the circumstances surrounding Kpebu’s arrest.

“The Office cannot weaponise its authority against citizens,” he said.

The House is expected to continue discussing the future of the OSP as calls grow for clarity, accountability and a stronger anti-corruption framework.