The Member of Parliament for Berekum West, Dickson Kyere-Duah, has expressed deep concern over what he describes as an alarming rise in petitions seeking the removal of the Special Prosecutor from office.
According to the lawmaker, no fewer than 16 petitions have already been submitted to the Presidency demanding action against the Special Prosecutor, with indications that additional filings are expected soon.
Mr. Kyere-Duah, speaking in a media interview, warned that the worrying trend signals a possible attempt to weaponise constitutional processes for political ends.
“The sheer number of petitions is troubling. We must ensure the removal procedure is not abused or used as a tool to destabilise constitutional offices,” he cautioned.
Legal Bottlenecks and Strain on Judiciary
The MP explained that under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act (Act 959), the President is compelled to refer such petitions to the Chief Justice for a prima facie determination within 30 days. If sufficient grounds are found, a high-level committee must be set up within 14 days to investigate the allegations and issue a final recommendation within 90 days.
Mr. Kyere-Duah warned that the avalanche of petitions could place significant pressure on the Judiciary, especially the Office of the Chief Justice, which already oversees numerous high-priority constitutional functions.
He further questioned the motives behind the sudden surge, urging Ghanaians to reflect on the potential long-term damage to state institutions if politically driven petitions become a norm.
To safeguard the independence of constitutional bodies, the Berekum West MP suggested a review of existing laws to introduce some form of initial screening mechanism before such petitions are formally entertained.
He argued that this would help prevent frivolous and politically motivated actions that threaten to distract or derail officials from executing their mandates.
Institutional Stability at Stake
Many governance analysts have similarly warned that persistent attempts to unseat key anti-corruption officials — particularly the Special Prosecutor — could weaken the nation’s resolve to fight corruption, especially in politically tense periods.
As the deadline for the Chief Justice’s legal review draws closer, observers say the outcome could shape not only the future of the Special Prosecutor but also the resilience of Ghana’s constitutional oversight framework.
Source: My News Ghana
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