The Crusaders Against Corruption, Ghana (CACG), has called on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to increase its transparency by sharing relevant information and updates on investigations, prosecutions, and its overall activities with the public on a more frequent basis. The CACG believes that this would help build trust and keep taxpayers and the public well-informed about the progress and impact of the OSP’s anti-corruption efforts. They also encourage the OSP to invest in ongoing training and professional development for its employees to enhance their ability to combat corruption and promote good governance.
The CACG commends the OSP for its collaboration with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and advises the Office to continue working closely with other relevant stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, government agencies, civil society organizations, and international counterparts. They believe that such collaboration can promote coordinated efforts in fighting corruption and facilitate information sharing.
In terms of streamlining processes, the CACG suggests that the OSP should prioritize cases based on severity, impact, and available resources. They believe that developing systems to prioritize and efficiently handle cases would maximize the effectiveness of the OSP in combating corruption.
Regarding funding, the CACG acknowledges that the OSP is not adequately funded by the government. They urge the government to provide the necessary funding and financial resources to support the operations of the OSP, including conducting thorough investigations. The CACG also proposes regular evaluation and assessment of the OSP’s performance and impact to identify areas for improvement and ensure accountability.
The CACG emphasizes the need for the establishment of the Independent Prosecutorial Oversight Commission (IPOC) to prevent the government from exerting full control over the cases handled by the OSP. They believe that IPOC would help ensure independence and accountability in the handling of corruption cases.
The CACG expresses concern about the lack of specific tangible results in the OSP’s report, particularly in reducing corruption. They also note the absence of important cases of corruption and alleged vote-buying in the approval of district chief executives and internal elections of political parties. The CACG believes that additional details and context regarding specific corruption cases, their outcomes, and the overall performance of the OSP are necessary to evaluate the work of the Office and identify areas for improvement.
