OSP dragged to court over alleged unfair termination of employment

A former staff member of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Deputy Staff Officer (DSP) Mark Kwaku Asiedu-Arthur, has taken legal action against the anti-corruption agency, accusing it of violating his constitutional right to a fair hearing after abruptly terminating his appointment.

Filed at the Human Rights Division of the High Court, the suit challenges the OSP’s decision to withdraw his appointment in June 2025 without first allowing him to defend himself before a disciplinary body.

 According to Asiedu-Arthur, the stated reason for his dismissal—that he had previously been terminated from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) in 2016—was already disclosed and discussed at the time of his recruitment in 2023.

“The decision of the OSP to rely on a known and previously accepted fact to now justify the withdrawal of my appointment is an abuse of discretion and a violation of my right,” Asiedu-Arthur stated in his affidavit.

He argues that since the OSP had full knowledge of his past termination before hiring and subsequently confirming his appointment, it cannot now use the same information as grounds for dismissal. He described the OSP’s actions as “disingenuous” and a betrayal of good faith.

Represented by lawyer Derrick Aboagye Asamoah, the former investigator is seeking several legal remedies, including:

A declaration that the termination was unfair and violated Article 23 of the 1992 Constitution.

A finding that the failure to offer him a hearing before the withdrawal of his appointment constitutes a breach of his rights to administrative justice.

An order for reinstatement, or alternatively, compensation for both the dismissal and the damage caused to his reputation.

In a stunning revelation, Asiedu-Arthur claims that his woes began after he led investigations into a case involving the Scholarship Secretariat. According to him, his team was preparing to arrest the former CEO of the Secretariat, Kingsley Agyemang, who he alleged is a close associate of Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.

He says the Special Prosecutor intervened and directed him to halt the investigation to avoid undermining Agyemang’s political ambitions, as he was a parliamentary candidate for the Abuakwa South Constituency. After complying, Asiedu-Arthur said he became a target of internal victimisation, though his appointment was still confirmed in October 2024.

Things escalated when the OSP received a petition claiming he was working elsewhere under the name “Michael Ebbah” and receiving income without approval. The applicant maintains that this was a case of mistaken identity and that the OSP verified details belonging to another individual.

In June 2025, Asiedu-Arthur says he was placed on interdiction after calling the office to request charge statements in relation to the Scholarship Secretariat case. He contends that this interdiction and the subsequent termination were carried out without any form of disciplinary hearing.

He insists that the OSP’s action has caused him immense professional harm, particularly given the sensitive and high-profile nature of his work with the agency.

The court is yet to fix a date for hearing.