Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil has called for greater support for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), emphasising the need for stronger laws to empower the institution in its fight against corruption.
Contributing to a panel discussion on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, March 8, he stressed that history has shown that corruption cannot be fought effectively without legal backing and political will.
Mr Bentil argued that Ghana’s progress depends on building robust institutions rather than expecting immediate perfection.
“One of the ways we can support him [Special Prosecutor] is to pass some of these laws. 99% of the people who are threatening him are politically exposed persons and the OSP has to deal with politically exposed persons. The kinds of things they want to achieve through political office fuel corruption. If we pass the necessary laws, we can stop them before they even get there,” he argued.
“We live in a country like this, and someone has to run it. Nation-building requires sacrifices. Just as young men join the army and risk their lives for the country, we must also do our best to support institutions like the OSP,” he added.
Mr Bentil advocated for expanding the Special Prosecutor’s office, improving its security, and ensuring it has the necessary resources to operate independently.
Reflecting on Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts over the years, he pointed to the country’s history of corruption-related commissions of inquiry and military coups, yet corruption remains entrenched.
“At 68 years as a nation, we have had about 50 corruption-related commissions of inquiry and five military coups in the name of fighting corruption. And yet, we don’t seem to want to genuinely fight corruption. Since we set up the Special Prosecutor’s Office in December 2018, what real change have we seen?” he questioned.
Comparing Ghana’s institutional development to older democracies like the United States, Britain, and France, the Vice President of IMANI Africa urged citizens to focus on strengthening institutions over time, rather than expecting immediate results.
“The U.S. is 250 years old and is still dealing with issues like Donald Trump today. We need perspective. Ghana is still a young nation in comparison. We won’t get perfection overnight, but we can take steps toward it by building strong institutions that last.”
Myjoyonline
