The Supreme Court has granted an application by 14 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to participate in an ongoing case challenging the constitutionality of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
A seven-member panel of the apex court, chaired by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, admitted the organisations after their lawyer, Kizito Beyuo, argued that they possessed expertise and experience in governance and anti-corruption issues that would aid the court in determining the matter.
The case, Adamtey v Attorney-General, seeks to question whether aspects of the establishment and operational structure of the OSP comply with the 1992 Constitution.
The OSP was established under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences, particularly those involving public officials and politically exposed persons.
The CSOs admitted by the court are CDD-Ghana, Transparency International Ghana, Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, IMANI Africa, Democracy Hub, STAR-Ghana Foundation, NORSAAC, Penplusbytes, ACEP, Odekro, A Rocha Ghana, Parliamentary Network Africa, One Ghana Movement and Africa Education Watch.
According to counsel for the applicants, the organisations have over the years played active roles in promoting transparency, accountability and anti-corruption reforms in the country, making their involvement in the case necessary.
The Supreme Court’s decision is expected to deepen the public interest and governance dimensions of the proceedings, given the significance of the OSP in Ghana’s anti-corruption framework.
The outcome of the case could have far-reaching implications for the mandate and future operations of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
