Paul Twum-Barimah states OSP cannot prosecute independently under the constitution
via GhanaWeb1 min read
Paul Twum-Barimah, a lawyer and former Member of Parliament for Dormaa East, has defended a High Court ruling that restricts the Office of the Special Prosecutor OSP from independent prosecution. He asserts this decision is based on constitutional law, not judicial error. In a Facebook post on Friday, April 17, 2026, Twum-Barimah highlighted Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution, which vests prosecutorial authority in the Attorney-General, meaning the OSP requires proper authorization to initiate prosecutions. He also referenced Article 130, which gives the Supreme Court final interpretative authority on constitutional matters, and Article 12, the supremacy clause, stating that the Constitution is the supreme law and any inconsistent laws are void. He argued that while the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 Act 959 aims to combat corruption, it cannot override constitutional provisions. Twum-Barimah cautioned that misinterpreting the law could undermine constitutional order and urged the Supreme Court to provide a conclusive determination to resolve inconsistencies in judicial interpretations, warning that continued uncertainty could impact corruption cases. He implied the High Court simply applied existing law and that the Supreme Court must bring final clarity to prevent institutional conflict and ensure legal certainty.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 10 countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Must ReadA video circulating online shows a group of South Africans confronting a Ghanaian resident, asserting that he has overstayed his welcome. A woman in the group stated that they would no longer tolerate foreigners from other African countries in South Africa, urging them to address issues in their home countries instead of seeking opportunities elsewhere. She emphasized that Africans should fix their own nations and expressed fatigue with migrants moving across the continent. The group questioned the Ghanaian man's presence, stating he arrived with a travel document and integrated into their communities. They demanded to see his passport, and when he presented a "certified copy," they accused him of obtaining it through bribery from a corrupt South African official. One man questioned why he would certify his passport in a foreign land, which the Ghanaian explained was to prevent loss or damage to the original. The South Africans maintained that he was in the country illegally and should depart.
Must ReadAhmed Ibrahim, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, has accused Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party NPP of hypocrisy regarding the anti-LGBT bill. Speaking on April 20, 2026, during the Government Accountability Series, Ibrahim claimed that NPP MPs, who are now advocating for the bill's passage under the John Dramani Mahama government, had previously failed to support it when their own government was in power. He stated that four NPP MPs initially joined four National Democratic Congress NDC legislators to sponsor the first anti-gay bill but then "ran away" when it was time for its passage. Ibrahim noted that three other NDC MPs had to be called to join the remaining NDC members to form a group of seven, including Reverend Ntim Fordjour, to push the bill. The Minister asserted that NPP MPs are now attempting to portray the Mahama administration as unwilling to pass the bill for political gain, a tactic he believes will not succeed. He assured that President Mahama is committed to ensuring the bill's passage. Ibrahim also disclosed that the Constitutional and Legal Committee of Parliament is scheduled to meet on April 23, 2026, to discuss the bill's future.
Seasoned Ghanaian lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata revealed that his wife received a warning from a trusted source about an alleged plan to poison him while he was in prison. This information influenced his daily routine, as his wife brought him food every day. Tsikata, in an interview with JoyNews on April 21, 2026, described his prison experience as sobering, making him more aware of his life's privileges. He confirmed that the warning suggested an attempt to poison him and emphasized that the source was credible, though he chose not to disclose their identity. The lawyer stated that his wife's consistent act of bringing him food played a crucial role in ensuring his safety during his incarceration.
A 36-year-old woman, Regina Mamle Tawiah, has been arrested by the Eastern Regional Police Command in connection with the alleged abduction of a nine-year-old girl from Agormanya Zongo. The victim's father reported her missing on April 19, 2026. Investigations by the Odumase-Krobo District Police and BNI personnel at Accra International Airport led to the child's rescue at the airport, where Tawiah was allegedly attempting to traffic her to Kenya. Tawiah was arraigned before the Odumase-Krobo Circuit Court, pleaded not guilty, and has been remanded into police custody. Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 5, 2026, for a case management conference. The child has been safely reunited with her father.