The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has strongly rejected claims that its investigation into former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is being driven by personal animosity.
The rebuttal comes in response to comments made by Prof Ransford Gyampo, Acting CEO of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, who questioned the motives behind the ongoing probe.
Speaking on TV3’s Keypoints programme, Prof Gyampo had warned, “I hope the OSP is not motivated by vendetta.”
In a statement released on Facebook on 22 June, the OSP described the professor’s remarks as “misleading and potentially harmful to the integrity of its operations.”
The Office insisted its investigation is focused solely on “stated allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences,” including the alleged abuse of office for personal gain.
Central to the inquiry is a multi-year contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML), a company whose dealings with the Ministry of Finance have been under scrutiny.
The OSP also disclosed that Prof Gyampo had contacted the Office regarding SML while officers from the OSP and the National Security apparatus were conducting a lawful search of the company’s premises.
While it stopped short of accusing Prof Gyampo of wrongdoing, the Office noted that “the timing and nature of this contact raise questions.”
“Such actions,” the OSP warned, “have the potential to undermine the fight against corruption.”
The Office stressed it remains open to public scrutiny and constructive criticism but cautioned public officials against attempts—whether overt or subtle—to interfere with ongoing investigations.
Prof Gyampo had earlier called for fairness and transparency in the handling of Mr Ofori-Atta’s case.
He also raised concerns about the OSP’s rejection of proposals by Mr Ofori-Atta’s legal team to conduct interviews via video conferencing, citing the former minister’s reported ill health.
“It is important to find out if Mr Ofori-Atta is not sick. Because being sick is not an easy matter,” he said.
The OSP has insisted that Mr Ofori-Atta has not been formally charged and must comply with lawful investigative procedures in person.
It also dismissed suggestions that OSP officials should travel abroad to meet the former minister, citing concerns over public expenditure.
Prof Gyampo further questioned the broader effectiveness of the OSP, suggesting that several high-profile investigations had failed to produce results.
“And the OSP, they have in the past started so dramatically but, in the end, we saw nothing. Look at the Cecilia Dapaah case,” he remarked, referencing an earlier corruption probe that has yet to lead to any prosecutions.
