GACC urges resistance against attempts to weaken anti-corruption framework 

By Elizabeth PUNSU, Kumasi

The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has issued a strong call on citizens to resist what it describes as efforts to undermine the evolving public accountability framework, warning that recent developments risk eroding gains made in the fight against corruption.

According to the Coalition, the past few weeks have generated widespread despondency and deepened public mistrust in the state’s commitment to tackling corruption – particularly amid legal challenges confronting the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

With estimates suggesting the country loses about US$3billion annually to corruption, any rollback of reforms could prove costly.

“It is important that citizens do not shirk their responsibility to hold governments accountable for the use of the taxpayers’ money and the power of the state. We should stay vigilant, make our voices heard and insist on policies that will benefit the majority of citizens. We pledge our full dedication to promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in public life,” the Coalition said in a statement.

For over two decades, GACC noted, citizens have consistently demanded the establishment of an independent public prosecutor, separate from the Attorney-General, to handle corruption-related prosecutions. This demand, it explained, stems from concerns that the Attorney-General – being a political appointee – may face conflicts of interest, particularly when prosecuting members of the sitting government.

The push for reform led to adoption of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) by parliament in 2015 and subsequently the OSP’s establishment under the OSP Act, 2017 (Act 959) during the administration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The Coalition said the OSP’s creation marked a critical step toward fulfilling obligations under international frameworks such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption.

However, recent legal developments have placed the OSP’s future in doubt. According to the GACC, on April 8, 2026 the Attorney-General filed processes at the Supreme Court in the case of Noah Adamtey versus Attorney-General, seeking to declare aspects of the OSP Act unconstitutional – particularly provisions that empower the OSP to prosecute without the Attorney-General’s authorisation.

The situation was further complicated on April 15, when an Accra High Court ruled that the OSP’s prosecutorial powers exercised without the Attorney-General’s consent were unlawful. The court also directed the Attorney-General to take over all ongoing OSP cases and declared previous prosecutions by the Office null and void.

The statement further mentioned that a day after the ruling, Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Sai confirmed that steps had been initiated to assume control of all cases handled by the OSP. Meanwhile, the OSP has indicated that the High Court’s decision conflicts with an earlier ruling by another High Court division which had stayed proceedings pending the Supreme Court’s determination of the matter.

GACC described the High Court ruling as “contradictory and unhelpful”, arguing it is ‘ultra vires’ given that the substantive matter is already before the Supreme Court. It expressed confidence that the OSP will take all necessary legal steps to challenge the orders.

“We have therefore authorised Merton and Everett LLP, our lawyers, to apply to the Supreme Court as Amicus to enable us submit a brief in support of the constitutionality of Act 959,” the statement said.

The Coalition warned that these unfolding developments could significantly undermine the state’s ability to prosecute corruption-related offences, to the detriment of public interest.

“It is time to complete the process we started in 2004 and fully entrench the role of an independent public prosecutor in the Constitution,” the statement added.

Post Views: 16