The Office of The Special Prosecutor (OSP) is in the news again not because of one of the many unproductive political operations against a politically exposed person but an accounting anomaly.
The accounting journal as it is said in the accounting industry is not balancing.
Reports have it that the expensive-to-run entity has spent a whopping GHC143m to recover a paltry GHC2.8m in 2024.
For an entity which is operating lavishly, bullet-proof vehicles et al, the people of this country deserve something substantial to justify the amount of taxpayers’ deductions to support its operations.
The story has attracted the attention of many an observer of the governance architecture and for good reasons….it is about a Special Prosecutor whose enterprise should be bereft of blemish of any sort. Journalists have been summoned by him and asked to disclose their sources of information. As the bail conditions slapped on a radio journalist many described it as punitive. More journalists are on the radar of the anti-graft body for clampdown for allegedly exposing its profligate lifestyle.
For a man whose penchant for press conferencing to announce the list of persons he is preparing to take to court the last thing Ghanaians would want to hear about him is the uninteresting accounting journal of his office.
A few months ago he showcased his achievements but these have undoubtedly been overshadowed by the revelation under review.
He may have to do more to recover more money for the state….this should be more than what is being expended on the office by the people of Ghana.
The Office Of Special Prosecutor appears to have been jinxed since its inception. Being the second person to head it the expectation were high when he started his media glitz. The wait-and-see attitude of Ghanaians soon gave way to disappointment and today many are they who think the country can do without the office.
Perhaps he and his staff are the only persons who think otherwise. His banter if you like with the former Finance Minister made interesting headlines when the back and forth correspondence persisted.
That has de-escalated and we wonder when it would resurrect. We may have to wait a while…he could have something up his sleeves. Who knows?
His last media appearance of mention was when he riveted his attention on Dr. Mustapha Hamid. The former NPA boss’ friends were scared to the marrow when the extensive press mention was triggered by the Special Prosecutor, their fear prompted by the confidence of the man leading the charge against his latest prey. Like others before him the heat has subsided.
As for the accounting journals perhaps let us give him more time before taking a final decision and following same to the Presidency with petitions.
The President’s desk at Jubilee House is used to petitions the kind which was used to remove the former Chief Justice.
