President Akufo-Addo has accepted the resignation of Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu.
The statement said the President has directed the Chief of Staff to ensure that all outstanding emoluments and entitlements due to Mr. Amidu are paid to him.
Meanwhile, the statement served notice that allegations leveled by Mr. Amidu in his resignation epistle will be responded to in due time.
The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu tendered his resignation Monday, November 16, 2020.
He cited among other things “threats “in investigating the Agyapa deal. He also said the death of former President Jerry John Rawlings who was his only hope of protection has also necessitated his decision to resign.
“The reaction I received for daring to produce the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption report convinces me beyond any reasonable doubt that I was not intended to exercise any independence as the Special Prosecutor in the prevention, investigation, prosecution, and recovery of assets of corruption. My position as the Special Prosecutor has consequently become untenable”
Martin Amidu was appointed in 2018 to lead the crusade against corruption in Ghana.
Reacting to the resignation in a statement issued by the Communication Director of the NPP, Yaw Buaben Asamoah, the party stated that “Indeed, that his actions appear to impact both the incumbent and immediate past governments vindicates the wisdom of the mandate and powers of the Office which he occupied. An Office hinged on the independence of thought and action.”
“Independence cannot be infallible. Independence does not mean the actions of the Office cannot be commented upon by the people as has happened with Mr. Amidu’s report on Agyapa.
“Also, for the OSP to work well, the principles of natural justice must be respected at all times. Mr. Amidu’s letter of resignation, it would appear that he chose to resign because H.E the President sought to apply “Audi Alteram Partem” rules to enable the Hon. Finance Minister states his case after an anti-corruption risk and corruption risk assessment report was done on Agyapa and the Minister’s role in it assessed and conclusions reached without giving the Minister the prior opportunity to explain matters beyond the documents assessed.”
The NPP said “In short, the very independence and authority of the Office demand that its conclusions hold up to scrutiny. In this regard, much as the Office has the power and right to issue the Report, the recipient President also had a duty to engage the Hon. Minister of Finance, who in his Memo requested by the President in response, clearly engages very transparently on the issues raised in the report. We are at a loss as to how this can be stretched to mean interference”.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
