Nana Tuffour Boateng, co-host of Channelone TV Breakfast Daily, has raised fresh concerns about the proliferation of state investigative and anti-corruption institutions in Ghana, questioning whether overlapping mandates are draining public resources without commensurate results.
Speaking during the programme, Mr Boateng said recent public debate over calls to abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor prompted him to reflect on the broader structure of state institutions. He argued that Ghana may be spending excessive sums on multiple agencies performing similar functions with “little to zero achievements” to justify the investment.
He cited the Economic and Organised Crimes Office, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the National Investigations Bureau, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, and the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, questioning what clearly differentiates their mandates and outcomes. Mr Boateng challenged authorities to present concrete evidence of impact and measurable results from each agency.
He called for a comparative assessment of the budgets allocated to these bodies against prosecutions and convictions secured, urging policymakers to determine whether taxpayers are receiving value for money. Ghana’s reliance on development partners, he argued, makes fiscal prudence even more critical.
Mr Boateng also noted that many investigators across these agencies are police officers or former police officers on secondment, further blurring institutional distinctions. Using EOCO as an example, he observed that its leadership has historically been drawn from senior ranks of the Police Service.
While stressing respect for the institutions involved, he said a national conversation was needed to reassess their relevance, efficiency, and impact. He warned that without a clear accounting of results, continued heavy spending on overlapping bodies risks undermining public confidence and weakening the fight against corruption.