President John Mahama has been criticised by the First Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, for requesting the Majority Leader and Majority Chief Whip to withdraw a Private Members’ Bill seeking to abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

Habib Iddrisu called the President’s intervention a form of “executive control” over Parliament, cautioning that such actions weaken the independence of the legislature.

Addressing the House on December 11, 2025, he argued that the President had exceeded his constitutional boundaries.

President Mahama requests withdrawal of Bill seeking to repeal OSP

“Mr Speaker, because Parliament is not receiving adequate funds and the executive wants to dominate this House, the President is now directing Members of Parliament. When the Majority Chief Whip and Majority Leader attempt to introduce a Private Member’s Bill, the President orders them to reduce it.

“We have an official letter from the presidency. He has instructed them to withdraw it. Mr Speaker, the executive has no authority to dictate what happens in Parliament,” he stated.

The First Deputy Minority Whip’s statement came after President Mahama asked Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor to halt their plan to introduce the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Repeal) Bill, 2025.

A statement issued by the Government’s Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, confirmed the request.

“President John Dramani Mahama has asked the Majority Leader and Majority Chief Whip in Parliament to withdraw the Private Member’s Bill intended to repeal the Act that established the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the request aligns with the President’s recent public stance that the OSP should be strengthened rather than dissolved, following his meeting with the National Peace Council on December 10, 2025.

Watch the video below:

First Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu, speaking on the floor of Parliament, has stated that President Mahama cannot dictate how Parliament conducts its affairs. His remarks come after the President requested the withdrawal of a Private Member’s Bill seeking to repeal the… pic.twitter.com/a5ALg3xpkF

— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) December 11, 2025