Ghana Deputy Attorney-General rejects OSP claims of refused collaboration

Ghanaian Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, has dismissed allegations from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) regarding a lack of cooperation in corruption-related cases. The Deputy Attorney-General described claims that the Attorney-General’s Office had turned down requests for collaboration as “completely false.”

The dispute follows comments by the OSP’s Director of Strategy, Research and Communications, Sammy Darko, who claimed the OSP had approached the Attorney-General’s Office for collaboration on several instances but was rebuffed.

Dr. Srem-Sai clarified that the Attorney-General serves as the lead law enforcement authority, noting that the OSP and other investigative bodies operate under the broader legal authority of the Attorney-General. He cited a Supreme Court decision affirming the accountability of such institutions to the Attorney-General’s office.

Furthermore, Dr. Srem-Sai stated there is no institutional tension between the offices, asserting that Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine aims to fight crime fairly while respecting the rights of the accused. He argued that the OSP is simply one of several agencies, such as the Police and the Narcotics Control Commission, that work alongside the department.