Renowned legal scholar Professor Kwaku Asare is warning about the growing threat of public bias and partisan loyalty championed by looters and their allies to undermine the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Popularly known as Kwaku Azar, the governance advocate accused ‘looters and their sympathisers’ of actively working to delegitimise the anti-corruption body by portraying it as ineffective before it has had sufficient time to produce tangible results.
“This isn’t just noise. It’s a deliberate strategy. Looters and their apologists seek to erode public confidence in the OSP, portraying every anti-corruption effort as a witch-hunt,” Professor Asare asserted.
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He lamented the increasing trend of selective public outrage, where citizens readily demand accountability from political opponents but vehemently object when their allies face scrutiny.
“We demand justice, but only when their people are in the dock. When it’s our opponents, it’s looting. When it’s our own, it’s political persecution,” he stated, highlighting the dangerous ‘moral hypocrisy’ that jeopardises constitutional governance and the crucial fight against corruption.
Dismissing claims that the OSP is merely engaged in rhetoric, Professor Asare presented a list of significant achievements, including: seven convictions secured through plea bargains resulting in the recovery of substantial sums; eight ongoing criminal trials across the country; 67 active investigations currently underway; approximately GH₵135 million saved and GH₵280 million in questionable contracts successfully blocked; disruption of major corruption networks within the Customs Division and the Ghana Education Service (GES); and high-level referrals of cases to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for further investigation.
“The facts speak for themselves,” Professor Asare emphasised, stressing that the institution is far from inactive.
While staunchly defending the OSP’s efforts, the legal expert did not shy away from criticising the judicial system, pointing out that it inadvertently facilitates delay tactics that obstruct the prosecution of corruption cases.
“No anti-corruption effort can succeed if the courts remain a haven for adjournments, vacations, and endless interlocutory appeals,” he argued. He identified structural deficiencies within the judiciary, such as mandatory judicial vacations, the absence of effective case management systems, and a lack of stringent timelines, which collectively create an environment that favours those seeking to evade justice.
Professor Asare stressed the need for a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy that encompasses prosecution, asset recovery, prevention measures, and crucial judicial reforms. He passionately appealed to the public to offer their unwavering support to institutions like the OSP, even in instances where the outcomes might challenge their political affiliations.
“If we can’t help fight corruption, the least we can do is not fight those fighting it,” he urged.