The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which criticized a former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, for influence peddling, explained in a recent statement why it was unable to bring charges against him.

Influence peddling is a recognized form of corruption worldwide. The OSP's investigation, which was based on an investigative documentary titled "Galamsey Economy," produced by Tiger Eye P.I. and led by renowned investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, raised serious concerns about this practice.

"Influence peddling or trading in influence is a significant index of corruption worldwide, and it is deprecated under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)," the OSP explained.

Nevertheless, despite Ghana's status as a state party to the UNCAC (United Nations Convention against Corruption), it has not introduced specific legislation to criminalize influence peddling or trading in influence.

Consequently, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) emphasized that it lacked the legal authority to initiate legal proceedings in such cases, emphasizing the legal constraints it encountered.

The OSP emphasized the urgency of enacting legislative changes, including the adoption of a Corrupt Practices Act and a Conduct of Public Officers Act.

This aligns with the demands of various civil society organizations, notably OccupyGhana.