The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revealed in its half-yearly report for July 2025 that it is currently handling one hundred and fifty-two (152) cases at the preliminary investigation stage.
The office explained that such cases would only be publicised if the Special Prosecutor determines that they fall squarely within its mandate and merit progression beyond the preliminary phase.
“These may be publicised if the Special Prosecutor determines that they are within the mandate of the Office and that they should be moved past the preliminary investigation stage,” noted in the report.
This approach, the report noted, is designed to safeguard the privacy of individuals, protect the business operations of institutions and companies, and prevent unnecessary stigmatisation.
“This is a policy intended to protect the privacy of individuals and the business operations of institutions and companies, and to avoid unnecessary stigmatisation.”
Meanwhile, some sixty-seven (67) cases are under full stage investigation, including:
Illegal Mining
Investigation is ongoing in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding illegal mining – referred to as Galamsey.
The investigation targets the Ministry of lands and Natural resources and the forestry Commission. It also targets the activities and expenditure of the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), especially in respect of the seizure and management of excavators, machinery, road vehicles, and gold nuggets.
The investigation further targets the activities of akonta Mining limited and other companies; nationals of foreign countries allegedly involved in illegal mining; and allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences against some Municipal and District Chief executives.
Minerals Income Investment Fund
The Office is investigating suspected corruption and corruption- related offences in respect of the operations of the Minerals Income Investment fund (MIIF) between 2020-2024 – especially regarding
payments made in respect of Agyapa Royalties Limited; Small Scale Mining Incubation Programme (SSMIP);
Quarry Value addition Programme (QVAP); lithium asset (projected lithium-focused exploration and development corporation); Gold asset 2 (Enchi gold project); all other investments by MIIF; funds expended on the Chairman of the Board of Directors; the operational funds of MIIF; purchase of parcel of land for intended office building; contracts and agreement entered into by MIIF; and publications by MIIF.
the investigation targets some former and serving officials of MIIF and the following entities:
- Asante Gold Corporation
- ElectroChem Ghana limited
- Goldridge Ghana limited
- GIG Minerals limited
- RCM Properties
- Energy & resources Company limited
- Goldstrom Ghana limited
- BH Minerals limited
Ghana Airports Company Limited
The Office is investigating suspected corruption and corruption- related offences in respect of the operations and contractual arrangements of Ghana airports Company limited between 2020- 2024.
Ghana Education Service
The Office is investigating suspected corruption and corruption- related offences in respect of large-scale sale of appointment letters to prospective teachers and laundering of the proceeds of the unlawful enterprise.
National Commission on Culture
The Office is investigating the operations of National Commission on Culture between 2020-2024 with particular focus on suspected corruption and extortion in relation to the payment of staff salaries and salary arrears.
Ghana Revenue Authority/Tata Consulting Services
The Office is investigating suspected corruption and corruption- related offences in respect of the procurement processes leading to the award and execution of a contract by the Ghana revenue
authority to Tata Consulting Services for the implementation of Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) for the Domestic tax revenue Division of the Ghana revenue authority.
National Service Authority
The Office is investigating suspected corruption and corruption- related offences in respect of the activities of the National Service authority, especially the recruitment of national service personnel and related activities between 2020-2024.
Ministry of Health/Service Ghana Auto Group Limited
The Office is investigating suspected corruption and corruption- related offences in respect of a contract awarded by the Ministry of Health (initially commenced by the Ministry for Special Development Initiatives) to Service Ghana auto Group limited and attendant payments for after-sales service and maintenance of 307 Mercedes- Benz Sprinter 305 CDI ambulances for the National ambulance Service.
National Cathedral the Office is investigating suspected corruption and corruption-
related offences in respect of the procurement of contractors and materials; payments by a former Minister of finance, Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta; payments by the National Cathedral Secretariat;
and the activities regarding the construction of the National Cathedral.
Tema Oil Refinery and Tema Energy and Processing Limited
The Office is investigating suspected corruption and corruption- related offences in respect of contractual arrangements between Tema Oil refinery and Tema energy and Processing limited; and the operation and management of Tema Oil refinery between 2020- 2024.
Electricity Company of Ghana Limited
The Office is investigating suspected corruption and corruption- related offences regarding the termination of a Distribution, loss reduction and associated Network Improvement Project contract
between the electricity Company of Ghana limited and Beijing Xiao Cheng technology (BXC).
Government of Ghana Payroll Administration
The OSP and the Controller and accountant General’s Department
(CAGD) jointly commenced corruption risk assessment and investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of Government Payroll administration.
The assessment and investigation are especially aimed at isolating and removing the names of non-existent, ineligible, and undeserving persons from government payroll, recovering wrongful payments
and unearned salaries, prosecuting persons suspected to be culpable for any offences, and the institution and implementation of internal controls in respect of payroll processing and payment of salaries.
To facilitate the roll-out of the investigation and assessment throughout the country, a pilot exercise was carried out in the Northern region (covering educational institutions under Ghana education Service and the tamale teaching Hospital) by a joint team, comprising investigators, tracers, and assessors from the OSP and selected staff of the Payroll Processing Directorate of CAGD between December 2023 and April 2024.
On 20 May 2024, the OSP and the CAGD published an investigation report on the pilot
exercise. The exercise resulted in the blockade in January 2024 of a total amount of two Million eight Hundred and fifty-four thousand One Hundred and forty-four cedis eighty pesewas (GHC2,854,144.80), which was traced as representing unearned monthly salaries being paid to persons who are deceased, retired, vacated their posts, flagged as missing staff, or whose whereabouts are unknown (colloquially referred to as “Ghost Names”).
The blockade of the amount of two Million eight Hundred and fifty- four thousand One Hundred and forty-four cedis eighty pesewas (GHC2,854,144.80) and the removal from Government Payroll of
the corresponding deceased, retired, post vacators, the missing, and those whose whereabouts are unknown has saved the republic an amount of thirty-four Million two Hundred and forty-Nine thousand Seven Hundred and thirty-Seven cedis Six pesewas (GHC34,249,737.6) for the 2024 financial year, and future savings of that amount (in addition to future periodic upward pay adjustments) for every year that the unearned-salaries-amount would have remained undetected but for the joint investigation and assessment by the OSP and CAGD.
The OSP is taking steps to recover unearned salaries paid in respect of deceased, untraceable, and retired persons and persons who have vacated their posts. further, the OSP and CAGD are engaged in the process of directing internal control mechanisms in respect of payroll processing to substantially reduce the incidence of the processing and payment of unearned salaries. The OSP and CAGD would proceed by extending the investigation to the remaining fifteen regions of the republic under Phase I of the exercise.
Further, the Office is pursuing the prosecution of persons suspected to be culpable for corruption and corruption-related offences in this regard. The Office secured six(6) convictions and the payment of restitution to the republic during the period under review.
State lands, Stool lands, and other Vested lands the Office is proceeding with investigation into the appropriation, sale and lease of State-owned lands and properties to individuals
and corporate bodies since 1993.
The investigation covers all lands and properties that fall under the direct stewardship of the lands Commission; the Ministry of Works and Housing; all other Ministries; State Housing Company; State Owned Companies; and other State agencies.
The investigation also covers the management of vested lands and all public lands over which the State’s ownership or control has been relinquished and the conditions of release.
Further, the investigation covers the sale, lease, grant, and disposal by the lands Commission to individuals and corporate entities of some parcels of land and bungalows occupied by the Judicial Service of Ghana.
National Sports Authority
Investigation is ongoing in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding contracts awarded by the National Sports authority for the provision of goods and services to the following entities:
- Acoma Green Consult
- Tabee Gh. limited
- Wanschie Car rentals
- Obiri Car rentals
- No farmer No fortune
- STC Clinic
- Bobina Solutions
- Mum & Sons Signature
Ghana Water Company Limited
Investigation is ongoing in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding contracts awarded by Ghana Water Company limited for the provision of goods and services to the following entities:
- Nayak 96 enterprise
- Dencom Construction Works
- edmus limited
- Jomaks
- Espab Construction limited
- Roger More Construction limited
- Velech enterprise
- Intermec Gh. limited
- A.J.I. trading & Construction limited
Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority
Following the publication by the Office of an investigation report on 3 august 2022 in respect of a complaint against labianca Company limited and the Customs Division of Ghana revenue authority, the Special Prosecutor directed the commencement of a wider investigation into the issuance of customs advance rulings and markdowns of benchmark values.
Investigation is also ongoing in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding the auction sales of vehicles and other goods by the Customs Division between 1 July 2016 and 15 august 2022.
Bank of Ghana
Investigation is ongoing in respect of the banking and financial sector crisis that precipitated the collapse of some banks and financial institutions and the financial sector clean up and recapitalisation reforms.
The investigation targets alleged corruption and corruption-related offences perpetrated by some officials of the Bank of Ghana, banks, specialised deposit-taking institutions, and financial holding companies.
Estate of Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie alias Sir John
Investigation is ongoing in respect of alleged improper acquisition of state protected land at the Achimota forest enclave and the Sakumono ramsar site by a deceased former Chief executive of the Forestry Commission.
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