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Martin Amidu criticizes Professor Prempeh over OSP legal dispute and Supreme Court ruling
via GhanaWeb4 min read
Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has criticized Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, regarding comments made about a Supreme Court ruling concerning the Office of the Special Prosecutor OSP. Amidu's criticism stems from Professor Prempeh's remarks after the Supreme Court ruled that the OSP could not join a suit filed against it, as the Office of the Attorney-General was already defending the case. Amidu argued that Professor Prempeh, who was involved in drafting the law establishing the OSP, should have a better understanding of the legal issues. He cited Article 885 of the 1992 Constitution, which states that "all civil proceedings against the State shall be instituted against the Attorney-General as defendant," to support the Supreme Court's decision. Amidu, a former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, questioned Professor Prempeh's legal qualifications, stating that he is "not qualified to hold himself out as a person qualified to practise law in Ghana." Professor Prempeh, who chaired the Constitution Review Commission, had expressed dismay on Facebook that the Supreme Court did not allow the OSP to file a defense, arguing that it was wrong for the Attorney-General's Office to represent the OSP when its position was not adverse to that of the plaintiff.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Must ReadA video circulating online depicts a man identified as the Deputy Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, Ivan Bilson Yeboah, and soldiers allegedly assaulting a man believed to be a financier of the ruling National Democratic Congress NDC in the Asante Akyem South Constituency. The footage shows Yeboah hitting the man's leg with a handcuff while at least three soldiers restrain him on the ground. Yeboah is heard verbally abusing the man and questioning his authority. After being handcuffed, the man is seen being dragged and beaten by the soldiers as he resists arrest. Onlookers are heard suggesting the incident may relate to the man moving a vehicle, and the alleged financier can be heard appealing for the police to be called. The reason for the attempted arrest by the soldiers is not specified in the video.
Veteran lawyer Thaddeus Sory has joined the public discussion regarding the prosecutorial powers of the Office of the Special Prosecutor OSP. In a statement on April 18, 2026, Sory argued that the core issue lies with the OSP's establishing law, which he believes fails to create a truly independent prosecutor for corruption cases. He highlighted that while the OSP was created due to concerns about the Attorney General's independence, the law still grants the President appointment powers for both the Attorney General and the Special Prosecutor, and also involves the Attorney General in the Special Prosecutor's appointment process. Sory stated that the law was a "fiasco ab initio," leading back to the same problem it aimed to solve. He questioned why experts speaking out now did not raise these concerns when the OSP law was passed. Sory dismissed the current debate over whether the OSP needs the Attorney General's authorization to prosecute as a non-issue, suggesting the Special Prosecutor should demonstrate that such authorization is genuinely being withheld. He criticized the OSP's performance, noting a lack of tangible results from prosecuted cases and suggesting the office has not shown serious efforts to fulfill its statutory functions, attributing blame to the occupants rather than solely the law. Sory also refuted the idea that the current legal challenges represent a "turf war" between the Special Prosecutor and the Attorney General.
Legal practitioner Thaddeus Sory has challenged the Office of the Special Prosecutor's OSP reluctance to seek authorization from the Attorney General, questioning why the process is being presented as unworkable. Sory urged the Special Prosecutor to demonstrate any alleged difficulties by formally requesting approval and presenting any refusal from the Attorney General. He stated, "Just how difficult is it to simply ask for authorisation? Let the Special Prosecutor show, by trying, that the requirement is unworkable. He should write for the authorisation and show us the Attorney General’s response refusing it." Sory also expressed disappointment with the partisan nature of public discourse surrounding the OSP, noting that many commentators have not engaged with the substance of the fight against corruption. He emphasized that reforming the law would be meaningless if public officials are not held accountable for their actions. His comments contribute to the ongoing public debate regarding whether Ghana’s anti-corruption institutions are limited by legal constraints or weakened by leadership and implementation gaps.
Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, met with his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares Bueno, in Barcelona on Friday, April 17, 2026, to deepen bilateral relations. The discussions focused on cooperation in migration, maritime security, and labor mobility. Ablakwa praised Spain's "progressive and humane" immigration policy, which aims to regularize the status of about 500,000 undocumented migrants. This policy, running from April 16 to the end of June 2026, grants legal status, employment access, and social protections to eligible migrants who have resided in Spain for at least five months before December 31, 2025. Ablakwa noted that the initiative also promotes skills development and multicultural integration. Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to assisting Ghanaian migrants with the necessary documentation to benefit from this program.