OSP, Attorney General dispute unnecessary rivalry - Dr. Asante-Otchere

Dr. Jonathan Asante-Otchere, Executive Director of the African Institute of Strategic Studies, described the legal challenge over the prosecutorial powers of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) as an unnecessary dispute largely fuelled by institutional rivalry rather than genuine constitutional uncertainty. Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, August 1, he stated, "If you do not have an OSP that is coordinating with the Attorney General, not necessarily being subservient to that office, but there is the need for that coordination because we are fighting the same battle, and what is that battle? To ensure that the state does not lose out in terms of resources and finances."

Dr. Asante-Otchere argued that the controversy could have been avoided through stronger collaboration and coordination between the OSP and the Office of the Attorney General. He noted that both offices share a common objective of protecting the public interest, safeguarding state resources, and ensuring accountability in corruption-related matters. His comments followed the Supreme Court's ruling on the prosecutorial powers of the OSP, which held that while the OSP has legal authority to prosecute criminal cases within its mandate, the Attorney General retains constitutional authority.