A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court of Ghana has approved an application by 14 civil society organisations (CSOs) to join the case of Adamtey v Attorney-General, which challenges the constitutional validity of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
The panel, chaired by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, granted the request after counsel for the applicants, Kizito Beyuo, argued that the CSOs bring relevant expertise and institutional experience that could assist the apex court in resolving the case.
He contended that the organisations are independent entities with a sustained focus on governance, accountability, and anti-corruption issues, making their participation important in a matter with significant implications for Ghana’s anti-corruption framework.
The substantive case, initiated by a private citizen, Adamtey, questions the constitutional legitimacy of the Office of the Special Prosecutor established under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The plaintiff is seeking a determination on whether aspects of the OSP’s establishment and operational structure comply with the 1992 Constitution.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor was created to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences, particularly those involving public officials and politically exposed persons, and has since become a key anti-corruption institution in Ghana.
The court’s decision to admit the CSOs is expected to expand both the legal and public interest dimensions of the proceedings, given their longstanding advocacy for stronger accountability and anti-corruption reforms.
The case has drawn considerable public attention due to its potential implications for the future mandate and operations of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
