The Office of the Special Prosecutor: A Loud Dog That Doesn’t Bite- FRANCIS APPIAH

By Francis Appiah

When the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) was launched in Ghana, it was heralded as the bulldozer that would uproot corruption in high places. Today, it has become another loud dog that only barks but never bites.

From Martin Amidu to Kissi Agyebeng, the OSP has spent more time granting interviews, issuing statements, and making noise about investigations than actually jailing corrupt officials.

Talk, Talk, Talk—No Results

Ghanaians did not ask for a press release agency; we demanded convictions and recovery of stolen money. Yet, years down the line:

• No big politician has been jailed.
• Billions lost to corruption remain unaccounted for.
• The OSP is fast becoming an expensive, ceremonial white elephant.

From the Agyapa Royalties investigation to the Cecilia Dapaah cash scandal, we hear “we are investigating,” “we are inviting,” “we are analyzing.” Where are the prosecutions? Where are the convictions?

Is It A Lack of Resources, Or A Lack of Will?

We have heard the same old song: “We don’t have resources,” “We don’t have enough staff,” “We don’t have independence.”

Yet:

• The office drives big V8s and rents plush offices.
• Salaries are paid every month.
• Press conferences are organized.
• Fancy speeches are made on TV.

The truth is that nobody is serious about fighting corruption in Ghana—not even the OSP. If the Special Prosecutor believes resources are insufficient to work, why hold the office hostage instead of resigning to protest the charade?

A Political Smokescreen

The OSP was created by politicians, funded by politicians, and its leaders appointed by politicians. How can it genuinely go after the very politicians who control its budget and tenure?

It has become clear that:

The OSP is being used as a public relations tool to appease citizens while the looting continues in the background.

Corrupt officials sleep peacefully because they know the OSP’s bite will never come.

Ghanaians Deserve Better

We do not need an office that:

• Issues threats without action.
• Collects evidence it never uses.
• Spends years on one case without resolution.

We need an anti-corruption institution that will take thieves to court, secure convictions, and recover our money.

If You Can’t, Step Aside

To the current Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng:

• Ghanaians are tired of your suits and statements.
• We want to see handcuffs on corrupt officials, not Twitter posts.
• If you know the system is rigged against you and you can’t fix it, step aside so Ghanaians know the system is the problem, not you.

The OSP was not set up to become a toothless legal department writing letters to people stealing our money. It was set up to fight, prosecute, and recover our stolen wealth.

Conclusion

So far, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has failed Ghanaians. It has become a slow, bureaucratic, ineffective arm of a system that protects the corrupt.

Until Ghanaians see real prosecutions and convictions, the OSP remains just another expensive furniture in Ghana’s corruption fight—beautiful to look at, but completely useless.