Edem Senanu Calls For OSP Astroturf Procurement Investigation

• Anti-corruption campaigner Edem Senanu has called for an OSP investigation into alleged procurement breaches concerning multi-million-cedi astroturf projects in Ghana.
• Senanu urged the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate procurement violations and potential conflicts of interest, especially involving public officials who are also Members of Parliament.
• He recommended that the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) enhance its due diligence to verify if contracts are already awarded or work has begun before processing procurement documents.
• The call follows a Corruption Watch exposé detailing an ownership dispute involving current Minister for Railways Development and MP for Hohoe Constituency, John Peter Amewu, and Head of Corporate Communications at Ghana National Gas Company, Ernest Owusu Bempah, over GH¢17 million in public-funded sports facilities in Hohoe and Agogo.
• This exposé is part of a broader investigative series examining 169 astroturf projects across Ghana, valued at over GH¢1 billion, focusing on procurement irregularities, abuse of office, and conflict of interest.

His intervention came in response to questions about immediate actions required to ensure accountability for those responsible, facilitate the recovery of public funds, and prevent similar issues from recurring in the future.

Anti-corruption advocate Edem Senanu has urged the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to launch an investigation into alleged breaches of procurement laws surrounding the construction of numerous multi-million-cedi astroturf projects across Ghana. Speaking on the Joy FM Super Morning Show on Wednesday, September 16, during the Corruption Watch segment, Mr. Senanu outlined critical steps he believes are necessary to address concerns arising from these projects.

His intervention came in response to questions about immediate actions required to ensure accountability for those responsible, facilitate the recovery of public funds, and prevent similar issues from recurring in the future. The call for an Edem Senanu OSP astroturf procurement investigation highlights growing concerns over transparency and adherence to legal frameworks in public infrastructure development.

Among his key recommendations, Mr. Senanu specifically called upon the OSP to investigate potential Ghana astroturf procurement breaches. He emphasized the importance of holding individuals and associated entities accountable for any violations of procurement laws. This direct appeal to the OSP underscores the need for robust Ghana anti-corruption law enforcement in cases involving public funds.

Furthermore, Mr. Senanu advocated for an investigation into possible conflict-of-interest situations, particularly concerning Members of Parliament who also serve as ministers and support development projects. While acknowledging that supporting projects in constituencies is not inherently problematic, he stressed the necessity for clear guidelines governing the participation of public officials in such dual roles. This focus on conflict of interest public officials Ghana aims to ensure ethical conduct and prevent undue influence in public contracting.

Mr. Senanu also directed a crucial recommendation towards the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), urging it to significantly strengthen its due diligence procedures. He proposed that the PPA must establish whether a contract has already been awarded or if work has commenced before processing any procurement documents. This proactive approach, he argued, would prevent the retrospective regularization of projects or contracts that have already begun.

He highlighted that such checks are vital to ensure that companies and officials cannot conceal existing arrangements and later attempt to legitimize them through the procurement process. Stronger Public Procurement Authority due diligence, according to Mr. Senanu, would act as a critical safeguard, preventing the manipulation of public procurement procedures to validate pre-existing, potentially irregular, agreements.

These calls for an OSP procurement investigation Ghana follow a revealing exposé by Corruption Watch, which found two senior officers from former President Akufo-Addo’s administration at the center of an ownership dispute. Minister for Railways Development and Member of Parliament for Hohoe Constituency, John Peter Amewu and Head of Corporate Communications at Ghana National Gas Company, Ernest Owusu Bempah are implicated in issues surrounding sports facilities in Hohoe and Agogo, respectively. These facilities were predominantly constructed using public funds, totaling more than GH¢17 million.

This exposé represents the initial phase of a nationwide investigative series launched by Corruption Watch in February 2025. The comprehensive series aims to examine 169 astroturf and sports infrastructure projects across Ghana, collectively representing public investments estimated to exceed GH¢1 billion. The investigation specifically targets three key anti-corruption issues: procurement irregularities, abuse of office, and conflict of interest, underscoring the systemic nature of the concerns raised.

Lawyers advising clients on public procurement in Ghana should anticipate heightened scrutiny from the OSP and PPA regarding contract awards and due diligence, particularly for projects involving public officials. Compliance officers must review internal procedures to mitigate conflict of interest risks and ensure strict adherence to procurement laws to avoid potential enforcement actions.

Source: Original reporting via Clara Seshie, published 16 September 2026