The Supreme Court has delivered a significant ruling, dismissing a lawsuit filed by Kenneth Kwabena Agyei Kuranchie, the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Searchlight Newspaper. The lawsuit challenged the constitutionality of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Mr. Kuranchie had filed the case against the Attorney General (AG) and the OSP, seeking a Supreme Court ruling to declare the OSP unconstitutional. In his writ, he requested the Supreme Court to declare the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (ACT 957) as being in violation of several articles of the 1992 Constitution.
The Special Prosecutor Act was established to allow the OSP to investigate specific allegations or suspicions of corruption and corruption-related offences involving public officers, politically exposed persons, and individuals in the private sector.
Mr. Kuranchie had filed a similar case against the OSP last year, which he later discontinued a few months ago. However, he recently filed a new case, which has now been dismissed by the Supreme Court.
The OSP received a hearing notice last week regarding the case, for which Mr. Kuranchie had filed a notice of discontinuance. After discussions on the notice of discontinuance, the Supreme Court dismissed the initial case.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the OSP should not be burdened with such lawsuits and should focus on its duties. This ruling has significant implications for the OSP’s ability to carry out its mandate without unnecessary legal challenges.
With the court decision, the new case filed by Mr. Kuranchie has effectively become irrelevant. The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the lawsuit reinforces the constitutionality of the OSP and its critical role in investigating corruption and corruption-related offences.
The OSP is now free to continue its work without the distraction of unnecessary legal challenges. This ruling is a significant victory for the rule of law and the fight against corruption in Ghana.
Mr. Kuranchie’s lawsuit was seen by many as an attempt to undermine the OSP’s authority and credibility. However, the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the case has reaffirmed the OSP’s legitimacy and its crucial role in promoting accountability and transparency in Ghana.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is a significant milestone in the fight against corruption in Ghana. It reinforces the constitutionality of the OSP and its critical role in investigating corruption and corruption-related offences, and paves the way for the OSP to continue its important work without unnecessary legal challenges.
