Ongoing case investigations at the OSP totals 75 - Half Year Report

The Office of the Special Prosecutor has indicated it is currently investigating five(5) known cases together with seventy(70) others at various levels of consideration.

It notes that cases like the Airbus SE, Banking and Financial Sector Crisis, Recruitment to cadet Officers at the Ghana Police Academy, Estate of Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie(Sir John), Northern Development Authority are ongoing together with the Seventy others which will be publicized in due course if determined that they fall within its mandate.

In its half-year Report, the Office of the Special Prosecutor notes as follows;

Airbus SE

The Office is engaged with INTERPOL and the central authorities of the United Kingdom and the United States under the mutual legal assistance regime.

Banking and Financial Sector Crisis

The investigation targets alleged corruption and corruption-related offenses perpetrated by some officials of the Bank of Ghana, banks, specialized deposit-taking institutions, and financial holding companies.

Recruitment to Cadet Officers Training at the Ghana Police Academy

The investigations target specific cases of alleged corruption and corruption-related offenses of the use of office for profit, abuse of office, abuse of power, favoritism, nepotism, victimization, and the selection of unqualified persons.

Estate of Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie alias Sir John

On 30 May 2022, the Special Prosecutor directed the freezing of the Estate of Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie alias Sir John (deceased). On 9 June 2022, the Special Prosecutor applied to the High Court, Financial Division, Accra for a confirmation of the freezing order. On 12 July 2022, the High Court refused the application. On 19 July 2022, the Special Prosecutor filed a Notice of Appeal to the Court of Appeal, Civil Division, Accra against the decision of the High Court.

Northern Development Authority

On 1 July 2022, the Special Prosecutor directed the Controller and Accountant General to immediately freeze payments arising from the contract.

Additionally, the OSP indicates that it has commenced its corruption prevention drive under the headline – “Pressure-for-Progress” which is akin to a combination of the corruption perception index of Transparency International and the scorecards of Afrobarometer.

It indicates moreover that it is by this moving beyond the composite annual ranking of countries on a corruption drop list to own our local narrative and fashion and retool our reformation by prodding our public sector into real and concrete action against corruption and corrupt practices, while also keeping the private sector alive by assuring a life of less corrupt practices.

Also, the OSP notes that it is collaborating with law enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Organised Crime Office, to adopt a standard operating procedure for asset recovery and management and also employing the services and expertise of investigative journalists to assist with investigations.