OSP Ghana: Denies Attorney-General Strained Relations, Affirms Collaboration

• The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has denied public perceptions of a strained relationship with Ghana's Attorney-General.
• Samuel Appiah Darko, OSP's Director of Strategy, Research and Communications, stated the institutions maintain a strong working relationship and effective collaboration.
• He made these remarks on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 29, acknowledging public belief in tension but asserting it does not reflect reality.
• The OSP official clarified that responding to public information is not an attempt to create conflict.
• Past disagreements, including over the AKSA bribery allegations and the Abu Trica case, had contributed to the public's impression of a dispute.

The OSP's explicit denial of a strained relationship and its insistence on strong collaboration with the Attorney-General's Office carries significant weight for Ghana anti-corruption efforts.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in Ghana has publicly refuted claims of a strained relationship with the Office of the Attorney-General (AG), asserting that the two critical anti-corruption institutions maintain a robust and collaborative working dynamic. This clarification came from Samuel Appiah Darko, the OSP's Director of Strategy, Research and Communications, during a call to JoyNews’ Newsfile program on Saturday, August 29.

Mr. Appiah Darko emphasized that the OSP consistently engages in effective collaboration with various state entities, particularly the Attorney-General's Office, as it fulfills its mandate to combat corruption. He directly addressed the public's perception, stating that while some might interpret recent events as indicative of a clash between the OSP and the AG, this impression does not accurately reflect the true nature of their inter-institutional relationship. He firmly declared that "the issue that the OSP is not collaborating with the AG, I think that it is a wrong perception."

During the broadcast, host Samson Lardy Anyenini challenged Mr. Appiah Darko, questioning whether the perceived tension was "not obvious from your press conferences." In response, the OSP official acknowledged that "people think that there is tension between the AG and the OSP." However, he clarified that the OSP's actions, such as responding to inaccurate information in the public domain, should not be misconstrued as an attempt to "breed a fight or tension" between the agencies.

He further underscored the OSP's commitment to maintaining cordial relations with all its stakeholders. The institution remains dedicated to the necessary institutional cooperation required for the effective investigation and prosecution of corruption-related offenses, signaling a unified approach to Ghana anti-corruption efforts.

Mr. Appiah Darko's intervention was prompted by concerns raised during the program itself regarding what appeared to be insufficient collaboration between the Office of Special Prosecutor Ghana AG. In recent times, the two institutions have indeed seemed to diverge on their respective roles in Ghana’s broader fight against corruption.

Notable instances of apparent disagreement include the high-profile AKSA bribery allegations and the Abu Trica case. Public statements emanating from both the OSP and the Attorney-General's Office had previously fostered an impression of a dispute, particularly concerning which institution deserved credit for progress achieved in these specific cases.

The OSP's explicit denial of a strained relationship and its insistence on strong collaboration with the Attorney-General's Office carries significant weight for Ghana anti-corruption efforts. It signals a public commitment to institutional harmony, aiming to reassure the public that critical investigations and prosecutions will not be hampered by inter-agency friction.

This stance by Samuel Appiah Darko, representing the OSP, highlights the importance of a coordinated front in tackling corruption. By publicly affirming a strong working relationship, the OSP seeks to reinforce the credibility and effectiveness of its mandate, ensuring that the focus remains squarely on combating corruption through unified institutional support rather than perceived internal disputes.

This clarification from the OSP signals a public commitment to institutional cooperation with the Attorney-General on anti-corruption efforts in Ghana. Lawyers and compliance officers should note that, despite past perceptions of friction, the OSP intends to project a unified front, implying that investigations and prosecutions will likely proceed with coordinated institutional support rather than being hampered by inter-agency disputes.

Source: Original reporting via JoyNews