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I Don’t Trust OSP; He Doesn’t Know What He is Doing – Tony Aidoo

Former Senior Presidential Aide Dr Tony Aidoo has launched a scathing critique of Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts, blaming both government inaction and the underwhelming performance of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for persistent graft in the country.

Speaking on JoyNews on Thursday, July 17, Dr Aidoo described the OSP as “ineffective” and accused its leadership of failing to build solid corruption cases and secure meaningful prosecutions.

“He talks big, he talks small, and he doesn’t know what he is doing,” Dr Aidoo said bluntly. “He is a shame. Is he protecting them? Look at the mess he made with the Cecilia Dapaah case.”

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Dr Aidoo expressed doubt over the special prosecutor’s competence, asserting that he has “never succeeded in any prosecution on corruption” and questioned the justification for his continued role.

Dr Aidoo’s central argument was that the OSP talks too much and delivers too little. “If you build up your case, the judges will not ignore your evidence. But if you fail to present convincing evidence, then that is what you are going to get from the judgement,” he said.
“I’ll advise him to talk less and do more,” he added.

Established under Act 959 in 2017, the Office of the Special Prosecutor was created to tackle high-level corruption with independence and authority. The OSP has the power to investigate, prosecute, prevent corruption, and recover stolen assets. It was designed to be a stronger alternative to existing anti-corruption bodies.

Despite early hopes, the OSP has faced resource constraints, legal challenges, and public scepticism. However, it has recorded a number of achievements, including:

  • Seven convictions secured since 2022
  • Over GHS 4 million (approx. $280,000) recovered in corruption proceeds
  • GHS 135 million (approx. $9.5 million) saved through preventive action
  • Investigations into high-profile cases such as the Cecilia Dapaah scandal, National Cathedral Project, and illegal mining (galamsey)

The OSP has also made strides in public sensitisation and youth engagement, launching initiatives like “Youth Against Corruption”, which has reportedly reached over 6 million people. It has built inter-agency alliances with CHRAJ, EOCO, and the Auditor-General to close enforcement gaps.

One of the OSP’s most controversial moments was its handling of the Cecilia Abena Dapaah case, in which large sums of cash were found in the former sanitation minister’s home. The case was eventually referred to EOCO for possible money laundering. The lack of a direct corruption charge drew strong public criticism and damaged the OSP’s credibility—fuelling remarks like those from Dr Aidoo.

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