Job Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE
Consultancy for a Reflection on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP)

The establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in 2018 marked a critical milestone in Ghana’s anti-corruption and governance reform agenda. Mandated to investigate and prosecute high-level corruption and corruption-related offences, the OSP was intended to operate with a high degree of independence from political interference. Its creation responded to long-standing public demand for a more credible and impartial enforcement of Ghana’s anti-corruption laws.

As the OSP reaches its seventh year of operations, the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), with support from GIZ and EU, is commissioning an independent review of the institution's performance and impact. This reflection is part of a broader effort to assess institutional accountability, promote democratic governance, and inform future reforms in Ghana’s anti-corruption landscape.

Purpose of the Assignment

The main objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive reflection on the Office of the Special Prosecutor, to assess:

• Mandate implementation and performance
• Legal, policy and administrative environment
• Political and social environment
• Institutional development and operationalization
• Public trust and perception
• Effectiveness and relevance
• Sustainability as a national anti-corruption mechanism
• Extent to which it has contributed to broader transparency and accountability goals
• Evaluate its efforts in engaging and protecting women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups within the state’s anti-corruption efforts.
• Evaluate how its design and operations address gender and social inclusion concerns;
• Offer evidence-based recommendations for reform, capacity building, and donor support.
• Lessons learned and recommendations for future reforms

Scope of Work
The consultant will be expected to:

• Review the legal and institutional framework establishing and governing the OSP.
• Assess the operational performance of the OSP from 2018 to 2025, including:
  • Case handling, investigative approachand innovations
  • Investigations and prosecutions outcome
  • Asset recovery
  • Prevention efforts
  • Collaboration with other anti-corruption and accountability agencies
• Examine governance, administrative, institutional capacity, and performance, including:
  • Reporting and transparency mechanisms
  • Governance performance
  • Independence
  • Asset recovery
• Analyze public and stakeholder perceptions of the OSP’s effectiveness, independence, and credibility.
• Identify key achievements, challenges, and missed opportunities over the seven-year period.
• Provide comparative insights from similar anti-corruption institutions in the region and globally. (Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, U.K. etc)
• Offer actionable recommendations to strengthen the OSP and Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture.

Deliverables
The consultant is expected to produce the following:

1. Inception Report – outlining methodology, work plan, key informants, and timeline (within two weeks of contract signing).
2. Draft Reflection Report – a detailed analytical report (approx. 40–60 pages) with findings and preliminary recommendations.
3. Validation Workshop – presentation of findings to CDD-Ghana and key stakeholders for feedback.
4. Final Report – revised report incorporating stakeholder inputs and policy recommendations.
5. Policy Brief – a concise (2–4 page) summary of key findings and recommendations for dissemination.

Duration and Timeline
The assignment is expected to last up to 10 weeks,1 starting from the date of signing the contract.

Reporting and Supervision
The consultant will report to the PAIReD Project Implementation Team at CDD-Ghana. Regular progress meetings will be held to ensure alignment with project objectives.

Required Skills or Experience

The ideal consultant should have:

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in Law, Public Policy, Political Science, Governance, or related fields.
• Proven experience in governance, institutional assessments, and anti-corruption policy analysis.
• Strong research, analytical, and writing skills.
• Familiarity with Ghana’s legal and institutional anti-corruption framework.
• Ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including public officials, civil society, and legal practitioners.