Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has waded into the ongoing national debate about the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), asserting that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo deserves credit for establishing what he calls Ghana’s most independent anti-corruption institution.
In a Facebook post, Manasseh argued that despite controversies surrounding Akufo-Addo’s relationship with the OSP’s first occupant, Martin Amidu, the decision to appoint him was itself a bold indicator of the President’s intention to strengthen the country’s anti-corruption architecture.
Manasseh wrote that Akufo-Addo’s creation of the OSP marked a major milestone in Ghana’s long-standing fight against corruption.
“President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo left us a solid legacy in the fight against corruption. The fact that he appointed Martin Amidu as the first OSP meant that he wanted the office to succeed.”
According to him, while the former President may have had personal or administrative clashes with Amidu, those issues do not erase the significance of creating a powerful, independent body with prosecutorial authority.
Manasseh described the OSP as “the most independent prosecutorial body in Ghana’s fight against corruption,” noting that its establishment was a crucial structural reform designed to shield high-profile corruption cases from political interference.
He stressed that criticisms of the individuals who have led the Office should not undermine the importance of the institution itself.
Despite ongoing public debates over the effectiveness of various OSP leaderships, Manasseh maintained that the relevance of the Office is not in doubt.
“We can question the output of the occupants of the Office, but the Office is necessary.”
The journalist’s comments come at a time when the role, independence, and performance of the OSP are under intense national scrutiny.
