A Legal Officer at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Sammy Darko, has appealed to Ghanaians to exercise patience regarding ongoing corruption prosecutions, noting that such cases typically take five to seven years to reach final judgment due to their complexity.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Darko explained that the public often expects quick convictions, but corruption-related cases involve intricate legal arguments and procedural challenges, which can significantly prolong proceedings. Deliberate delays by defence lawyers, he added, also contribute to the lengthy timelines.
“In Ghana, corruption cases can take five to seven years to wrap up in court because lawyers keep filing arguments and counterarguments. These are not like petty theft cases where people plead guilty immediately,” he said.
He contrasted high-profile corruption cases with minor offences, noting that ordinary citizens often plead guilty quickly, leading to faster case resolutions. “People always say someone steals plantain and is jailed in weeks, but they don’t realise those offenders don’t have legal representation and often plead guilty right away,” he explained.
Mr. Darko also highlighted the operational challenges faced by the OSP. Following the departure of former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu, the office remained largely inactive until Kissi Agyebeng’s appointment in August 2021. Since then, the office has rebuilt administrative structures, recruited staff, and established operational systems, with substantive operations effectively beginning in 2024–2025.
“You can’t use two years to thoroughly investigate, prosecute, and convict people in complex corruption cases,” he said, urging the public to allow the office time to build strong, fair cases.
He cited an example from the late Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills’ administration, where over 30 individuals linked to a National Service Scheme scandal remain entangled in prolonged legal proceedings, demonstrating the inherent challenges of prosecuting financial crimes.
Mr. Darko assured that the OSP remains committed to ensuring justice, emphasizing that rigorous legal processes take time but ultimately strengthen the credibility of convictions.
“We must allow the system to work. It’s better to have a strong, fair case that stands in court than to rush prosecutions that will fail,” he added.
Source: Gertrude Otchere
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