The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako, has suggested that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) may no longer be necessary in the medium term, following a recent High Court ruling affecting its prosecutorial powers.
His comments come in the wake of a ruling delivered on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, which directed the Attorney-General’s Department to take over all criminal prosecutions currently being handled by the OSP, pending formal authorisation from the Attorney-General.
Speaking in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, April 18, Mr Bediako questioned the continued relevance of the OSP under the current legal interpretation.
“In the medium term, I think we don’t need the OSP,” he said.
He, however, advised the OSP to comply with the court’s directive by seeking authorisation from the Attorney-General before initiating prosecutions.
“Just go for the authorisation. The Attorney-General cannot say he cannot give you,” he added.
The ruling stems from a judicial review application filed by Peter Archibold Hyde, one of four individuals under investigation by the OSP. The other accused persons include Alhaji Seidu of the National Insurance Commission, James Keck Osei, a former director at the Office of the Vice President, and Customs officers John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde.
They are alleged to have conspired to unlawfully seize containers using forged documents and a falsified letter purportedly issued by the Office of the Vice President.
In its decision, the High Court held that while the OSP has the mandate to investigate suspected corruption-related offences, it does not have the authority to initiate prosecutions without prior approval from the Attorney-General.
