In keeping with a requirement by its establishing Act, 2017 (Act 959), the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) has published a half-yearly report detailing the list of corruption cases that the office is probing.
The report, dated 1st August 2022, lists some 75 cases that the OSP is investigating pertaining to various facets of state and statecraft.
Among cases that have since been highlighted in media reports include the Airbus SE supposed corruption scandal involving a UK-based relative of former President John Mahama, Samuel Mahama.
The SP reports that it is in touch with INTERPOL, the US and UK authorities over this issue.
Another is the banking and financial sector crisis in which the SP announced the commencement of investigations to establish what led to the capitalization mess that prompted a so-called banking sector cleanup by the Akufo Addo administration.
Another is the suspicion surrounding the estate of the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, alias Sir John, who was found out to have bequeathed acres of state lands to his relatives in his will.
On 30 May 2022, the Special Prosecutor directed the freezing of the Estate of Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie alias Sir John (deceased). On 9 June 2022, the Special Prosecutor applied to the High Court, Financial Division-Accra for a confirmation of the freezing order.
On 12 July 2022, the High Court refused the application. But, on 19 July 2022, the Special Prosecutor filed a Notice of Appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision of the High Court.
Then there is the Northern Development Authority case in which the OSP on 30th June 2022, commenced investigation to establish suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of a contract awarded by the Northern Development Authority to A&Qs Consortium for consultancy services under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), especially in respect of the quantum of the contract sum.
On 1 July 2022, the Special Prosecutor directed the Controller and Accountant General to immediately freeze payments arising from the contract.
Details of some 70 other cases were not published because the OSP is still determining if they are within its remit.
According to the report, the non-publication of these cases is to protect persons involved against possible stigma.
The investigations target specific cases of alleged corruption and corruption-related offences of the use of office for profit, abuse of office, abuse of power, favoritism, nepotism, victimization and the selection of unqualified persons.