The editor-in-chief at large of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jr, says the resignation of Martin Amidu as the first Special Prosecutor was a wrong decision and wrong timing.
Kweku Baako said he is very disappointed with the turn of events and the Presidency has been forced to reply in a very measured and matured way.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show with Kojo Mensah, he said: “This being the first creation, Martin my very good friend and a comrade also being the first appointee to that historic office, a lot was expected of the office and the occupier or the occupant of that office.
“The resignation for me, I think was a wrong decision, taking at a wrong time and that’s why I’m disappointed. For me, the reasons he gave should have been the basis for him to stay on and deal with the issues.”
Baako said he knew Amidu would be difficult to work with “but that is the type of person we needed. I really went out there and endorsed him. I even stated that it was a masterstroke from the president. I’m very disappointed with the turn of events because I was a strong advocate for that creature of law – the Special Prosecutor’s office.”
He added, “I’m disappointed. I’m yet to speak to him directly but I will tell him this; it doesn’t help the country; it doesn’t help our evolution. It’s more of defeatist stance and it hurts.”
Baako said, “You are a Special Prosecutor, in the course of your work you’ve come across so many things, you have a report on a particular one – the Agyapa project which was in itself a unique initiative by a Ghanaian government.
“You’ve done what we call corruption risk assessment. According to you, there is political interference, this is the time to stick to the Office, to proceed further with your investigation… pursue that course, vindicate the appointment of yourself as the first appointee and then you just resign…”
Amidu resigned as the Special Prosecutor after close to two years in office.
In a letter to President Akufo-Addo, he suggested that the president has not been able to ensure his independence and freedom of action.
He said, “My position as the Special Prosecutor has consequently become clearly untenable.”
Amidu said his decision is to enable his appointing authority “to take steps to appoint a replacement to that position as required by law.”
“This is to inform the public that I resigned from my position as the Special Prosecutor of the Office of the Special Prosecutor with immediate effect upon the submission of my letter of resignation with reference number OSP/2/AM/14 dated 16 November 2020 which was received at the Office of the President at 15:15 HRS this afternoon,” he said in his letter to the president.
“The one condition upon which I accepted to be nominated as the Special Prosecutor when you invited me to your Office on 10 January 2018 was your firm promise to me that you will respect and ensure same by your Government for my independence and freedom of action as the Special Prosecutor,” the letter said.
Amidu, a former attorney general in the National Democratic Congress [NDC] administration, was named as the Special Prosecutor in January 2018.
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