Prosecutorial Power: OSP Heads to Court of Appeal After High Court Refuses Stay of Execution

The Office of the Special Prosecutor, OSP, is heading to the Court of Appeal after the High Court, General Jurisdiction 10, refused to stay the execution of its ruling halting OSP prosecutions.

Justice Eugene John Nyante Nyadu delivered the decision today, declining the OSP’s request to suspend the effect of the ruling pending appeal.

Following the High Court’s refusal, the OSP said it will immediately repeat the application for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal.

The OSP is seeking an order to temporarily halt the High Court ruling so its prosecutions can resume while the legal challenges are determined.

Background
The High Court (General Jurisdiction 10) has stripped the prosecutorial powers of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), labelling it void.

It comes after the accused persons in the case of Republic v. Issah Seidu & 3 Others (Suit No. CR/0513/2025), widely referred to as the “rice scandal case”, initiated an action at the Court challenging the independent prosecutorial power of the OSP.

This action was in spite of a pending challenge before the Supreme Court initiated by both the plaintiff and the Attorney-General.

On April 14, 2026, the General Jurisdiction judge declined an application by the OSP to adjourn proceedings pending the outcome of the matter before the Supreme Court and ruled that the OSP lacks an independent prosecutorial mandate.

The judge further directed that the case and all other cases under the authority of the OSP be referred to the Attorney-General for prosecution.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/