Executive Director of Transparency International Ghana, Mary Addah, has defended the growing public trust in the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
She argues that it reflects citizens’ belief in it as the best available anti-corruption option.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, she said public reactions to perceived threats against institutions often explain surges in trust.
“I would want to say that the issue around trust over time has shown that when the citizen believes that the alternative, or what they see as the best alternative, is what is being threatened, then they show up to show that commitment,” she said.
Madam Addah noted that this pattern has been consistent across surveys.
“It’s been exhibited in various surveys that we have done over time, in our corruption barometer and also the Afrobarometer,” she explained.
She said support for the OSP dates back to its formation, when many Ghanaians saw it as a stronger alternative to existing systems.
“In the case of the OSP, we had all gone out there on the road to ensure that it was passed, because we thought what existed at the time was not the best for all of us,” she stated.
She added that the push for the OSP was driven by the need for a more robust anti-corruption framework.
“They didn’t support the kind of rigorous, critical anti-corruption space, particularly because we’ve been to other countries where we have seen good examples of the fight against corruption,” she said.
Addressing recent calls to scrap the OSP due to its non-constitutional status, Madam Addah questioned what would replace it.
“There was also some tendency of people talking against it because it was not, eh, captured in the Constitution. And I believe the recent sentiment has been evident because they believe that, because it’s not constitutional, then it should be scrapped. But if we scrap it, what is the alternative?” she asked.
She maintained that the OSP remains unique in Ghana’s institutional framework.
“The alternative still remains that the OSP is the only anti-corruption, purely anti-corruption institution set up to fight corruption and corruption-related offences, as well as procurement offences,” she said.
For her, the current levels of trust are justified.
“And so for me, the trust is not at all surprising whatsoever… This is the best alternative we have for now,” she stressed.
Madam Addah said public confidence is also being driven by a more empowered citizenry.
“People are not afraid anymore, because capacity has been built over time, we have seen citizens empowered, and we have seen citizens begin to speak out more,” she noted.
She added that while support for the OSP is strong, it is not blind.
“That is not to say we are just going for it, hook, line and sinker… we also interrogate to see what else can be done that can better the system so that our trust can even be enhanced more than it is now,” she said.
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