Mahama overstepping constitutional bounds — Habib Iddrisu slams withdrawal order on OSP bill

The First Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, has criticised President John Mahama for asking the Majority Leader and the Majority Chief Whip to withdraw a Private Member’s Bill that seeks to abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

Mr. Iddrisu condemned the President’s intervention as an attempt by the executive to control the legislature, warning that it threatens the independence of Parliament.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, December 11, Mr. Iddrisu argued that the President had overstepped his constitutional authority.

“Mr. Speaker, because Parliament is not receiving adequate funding and the executive wants to exert control, the President is now dictating to Members of Parliament. When the Majority Chief Whip and Majority Leader plan to introduce a Private Member’s Bill, the President instructs them to scale it down,” he said.

“We have an official letter from the Presidency instructing them to withdraw the Bill. Mr. Speaker, the executive has no power to dictate what Parliament can or cannot do.”

His remarks come after President Mahama asked Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor to halt their effort to introduce the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Repeal) Bill, 2025.

A statement issued by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the President’s Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications, confirmed the request.

“President John Dramani Mahama has asked the Majority Leader and Majority Chief Whip in Parliament to withdraw the Private Member’s Bill seeking to repeal the Act that established the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the President made the request after reaffirming during a meeting with the National Peace Council on Wednesday, December 10 that the OSP should be strengthened, not abolished.

The President also repeated his call for the OSP to work more vigorously to build public confidence by tackling corruption as mandated.