Mary Addah, Programmes Manager at the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), has suggested to the President, Akufo-Addo, to recall the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu.
Amidu resigned on Monday (16 November 2020), accusing President Nana Akufo-Addo of “political interference” in his work.
Speaking with Kojo Mensah on the Asaase Breakfast Show, Addah said the President must demonstrate that he was not interfering in the work of the Special Prosecutor and does not intend doing so.
“Our believe is that if the president sticks to what he wants to do in the fight against corruption, this is the time for him to speak out on this issue, to show that commitment that he by no means wanted to interfere in the work of the special prosecutor,” Addah stressed.
She added: “So the ultimate is for the President to say you have said you are resigning, but I believe that you are the ultimate person, I still believe in you as I did in 2018 when I appointed you.
“I would want you to continue your work and I will not call to say you should wait on anything but then I ask you to do your work creditably, I think it will serve Ghana and serve the President himself.”
She said the sudden exit of Amidu and its aftermath if not well managed could negatively affect the President’s stance on corruption.
Background
Amidu on Monday tendered in his resignation to the President, citing among others lack of independence in executing his duties.
The letter said: “The one condition upon which I accepted to be nominated as the Special Prosecutor when you invited me to your Office on 10th 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.”
He added: “I should not ordinarily be announcing my resignation to the public myself but the traumatic experience I went through from 20th October 2020 to 2nd November 2020 when I conveyed in a thirteen (13) page letter the conclusions and observations on the analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessment on the Report On Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions and Other Matters Related Thereto to the President as Chairman of the National Security Council cautions against not bringing my resignation as the Special Prosecutor with immediate to the notice of the Ghanaian public and the world.”
Amidu was appointed in 2018.
Fred Dzakpata
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