Second Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, has insisted that President John Dramani Mahama cannot direct how Parliament conducts its legislative business, following the President’s request for the withdrawal of a Private Member’s Bill seeking to repeal the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) Act.
The controversial bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, proposes the abolishment of the OSP and the transfer of its mandate to the Attorney-General’s Office. The proponents argue that the OSP duplicates the prosecutorial functions of existing state institutions and has struggled with operational inefficiencies.
President Mahama, however, has appealed to Parliament to withdraw the bill, insisting that the OSP remains an important pillar in the national fight against corruption and must be strengthened rather than dissolved.
Reacting to the President’s position, Mr. Iddrisu emphasized that while the executive may express its views, it cannot dictate the legislative’s agenda.
His comments have ignited renewed debate about the balance of power between the executive and the legislature, and the extent of Parliament’s autonomy.
