Tamale, April 22, – The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), in collaboration with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), has held a stakeholder dialogue in Tamale to strengthen the national fight against corruption.
The engagement sought to enhance public understanding of the OSP’s mandate while building consensus on reforms to improve its effectiveness and independence.
The dialogue was supported under the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme, implemented by GIZ in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation, the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.
Participants drawn from civil society, government institutions, the media, traditional authorities, professional bodies, and youth and women groups deliberated on strategies to improve coordination and accountability in anti-corruption efforts.
The forum also reviewed findings from an eight-year assessment of the OSP conducted by CDD-Ghana consultants, aimed at shaping policy reforms based on stakeholder input.
Presenting the findings, Madam Linda Ofori Kwafo, a consultant, said the survey involved 412 respondents, with 53.9 per cent male and 46.1 per cent female participants.
She noted that 42 per cent of respondents were aged between 18 and 35 years, 52.2 per cent between 36 and 60 years, while 5.8 per cent were above 60 years.
On institutional trust, she said 55.2 per cent of respondents expressed confidence in the OSP’s ability to independently fight corruption, ranking it highest among key institutions.
She said the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice recorded 36.7 per cent, followed by the Economic and Organised Crime Office with 35 per cent, while the Attorney-General’s Department had 19 per cent.
However, 15.1 per cent of respondents indicated they did not trust any of the institutions.
Madam Kwafo outlined key recommendations from the study, including calls to entrench the OSP in the Constitution, strengthen its prosecutorial authority, ensure financial independence, and introduce unexplained wealth orders.
She also proposed the establishment of an Independent Anti-Corruption and Ethics Commission and increased capacity-building support for the Office.
She observed that although the OSP faced initial operational challenges, it had stabilised since 2023 and was beginning to record measurable progress.
Mr Bright Sowu, an official of the OSP, said 33 individuals were currently standing trial, while financial losses amounting to GH¢7.18 billion had been prevented.
He added that the Office had recovered GH¢35.14 million, secured seven convictions, and halted seven questionable transactions.
Mr Sowu said the OSP had also expanded its public outreach, engaging over 13,000 people directly and reaching a wider audience through virtual platforms.
Mr Hamdan Amadu Wumpeka, Coordinator of Activista Ghana, commended the initiative, describing stakeholder engagement as essential in strengthening public confidence in state institutions.
GHBUSS
22 April 2026
No comments:
Post a Comment