Fourteen civil society organisations (CSOs) have filed an application at the Supreme Court of Ghana seeking permission to join a landmark case challenging the constitutionality of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
They warned that the outcome could have far-reaching consequences for Ghana’s anti-corruption fight.
The application, filed on May 5, 2026, relates to the case Adamtey v Attorney-General (Suit No. J1/3/2026), which is testing key provisions that established the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
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In a joint statement, the coalition made it clear that its intervention is strictly in the public interest and not driven by political motives.
“The Applicants emphasise that their intervention is not partisan, adversarial, or personal,” the statement stressed, adding that their goal is to defend constitutionalism, institutional integrity, and accountable governance.
The groups are seeking to participate as amici curiae—friends of the court—allowing them to provide legal, policy, and comparative insights without becoming direct parties to the case.
The coalition comprises leading governance and anti-corruption organisations, including the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, Transparency International Ghana, Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, IMANI Africa, Democracy Hub, STAR-Ghana Foundation, NORSAAC, Penplusbytes, Africa Centre for Energy Policy, Odekro, A Rocha Ghana, Parliamentary Network Africa, One Ghana Movement, and Africa Education Watch.
According to the coalition, several of its members played direct roles in drafting and advocating for Act 959 back in 2017, including engagements with Parliament’s Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
They argue that this historical involvement gives them a unique institutional memory that could assist the Court in interpreting the law and understanding the intent behind its provisions.
The coalition also commended the Supreme Court for what it described as increasing openness to civil society participation in constitutional matters, calling it a sign of Ghana’s evolving democratic practice.
However, the case itself represents a high-stakes test of Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture, with potential implications for the independence and effectiveness of the OSP.
The applicants are being represented by a legal team comprising Kizito Beyuo, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Samson Lardy Anyenini, and Clement Kojo Akapame.
If granted leave, the CSOs say they will support the Court with comparative anti-corruption standards, institutional analysis, and broader public interest arguments.
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