Majority Chief Whip Rockson Dafeamakpor has defended his role in a withdrawn private member’s bill that sought to repeal the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) Act, saying the proposal was intended to improve the effectiveness of Ghana’s anti-corruption regime.
The bill, co-sponsored with Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, was pulled after public backlash and a directive from President John Dramani Mahama, which the sponsors said they immediately complied with.
The proposal drew criticism from civil society and within the governing National Democratic Congress. NDC General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on December 17, said Majority leaders must not act unilaterally on sensitive policy matters and should consult the party leadership.
Dafeamakpor acknowledged that broader consultation should have preceded the bill’s introduction but rejected claims that it sought to weaken accountability structures.
He said anti-corruption efforts must deliver measurable outcomes rather than rely on the existence of institutions alone, arguing that enforcement bodies such as EOCO and the Attorney-General’s Department are more visibly active in prosecutions.
The Majority Chief Whip maintained that the initiative was reform-focused, despite its withdrawal.
