The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), in collaboration with the Lens of Hope Foundation, the focal organisation for the Sege Local Accountability Network (LANet), has held a school sensitisation programme on the role of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

The programme was aimed at strengthening public understanding of corruption, its various manifestations, and the mandate of the OSP in combating corruption in Ghana.

It formed part of GACC’s wider initiative to promote transparency, reinforce the rule of law, and support national anti-corruption efforts.

With support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the GIZ EU-funded PAIReD Programme, the GACC held the sensitisation programme in commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day under the theme: “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption; Shaping Tomorrow’s Future”.

Mr Godwin Dzivor, the Focal Person for LANet, explained that corruption continued to undermine national development, deprive citizens of essential public services, and erode public trust.

He noted that corruption was not limited to public officials but also involved private individuals who abused entrusted power for personal or third-party gain.

Mr Dzivor outlined common manifestations of corruption, including bribery, fraud, examination malpractices, embezzlement, extortion, conflict of interest, nepotism, facilitation payments and abuse of discretion, adding that understanding these forms was essential for early detection and prevention.

He said the sensitisation also focused on the mandate of the OSP, established under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

Participants were taken through the background to the creation of the OSP, Ghana’s obligations under international anti-corruption conventions, and the rationale for establishing an independent institution to investigate and prosecute corruption and corruption-related offences.

He further highlighted the statutory functions of the OSP, which include investigating and prosecuting offences under the Criminal Offences Act, the Public Procurement Act and other relevant laws.

Resource persons also guided participants through various criminal provisions, ranging from bribery and extortion to collusive tendering and falsification of procurement documents.

Mr Dzivor said the session examined persistent challenges within Ghana’s anti-corruption framework, noting the absence of a clear constitutional definition of corruption, slow judicial processes, resource constraints, interference in institutional operations, and the gap between public expectations and the practical realities faced by anti-corruption agencies.

He encouraged citizens to play an active role in confronting corruption through what the GACC terms the “3 Rs”: resisting corruption collectively, rejecting it individually and reporting suspicious acts to the appropriate authorities, including the OSP.

The GACC reaffirmed its commitment to fostering accountability and promoting a culture of integrity across all sectors.

Contact details for reporting corruption cases to the OSP and other anti-corruption bodies were also provided to strengthen citizen engagement.