Martin Amidu's resignation: 3 factors that 'forced' the Special Prosecutor to 'sack himself'
On Monday, November 16, 2020, news broke of the resignation of Ghana's first Special Prosecutor, Martin Alamisi Benz Kaiser Amidu.
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The news came as a surprise to many people since he had just submitted reports to his first every assignment since he occupied that position of the special prosecutor.
Source: UGC
Amidu in his resignation letter stated some reasons why he decided to resign after two years in office.
YEN.com.gh highlights three main factors that made forced the Special Prosecutor to sack himself.
1. Interference
One of the main objective for setting up the office of the special prosecutor was to to allow for the independent adjudication of issues related to bribery and corruption.
Ironically, the office of the special prosecutor was fraught with issues of interference as Martin Amidu discharged his duties.
Amidu mentioned in his resignation letter that last straw that led to his resignation was the interference of the state in the Agyapa Royalty case he presented.
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 clearly untenable," he said.
2. Death threats
Martin Amidu mentioned that in regards to the Agyapa Royalties assessment he produced, he received death threats.
"Fear is the enemy of change and I am prepared from the vacuum created on 12th November 2020 to meet the threats of my demise as the price to pay for serving my country without fear or favour affection or ill will," he mentioned.
3. Non-payment of emoluments
The special prosecutor said none of the copy addressees made any efforts to honour any of the conditions of appointment in terms of emoluments and benefits of the appointment ever since he received his warrant of appointment on February 23, 2018 to the date of my letter of resignation.
Amidu added that due to his passion to fight corruption, he never for once made mention of his benefits being paid to him.
He also added that his has also not been paid any emoluments since her appointment.
In a related development, the member of parliament for the Assin Central constituency, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has reacted to the resignation of Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor.
According to him, he warned the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government against his appointment but they did not heed to his advice.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
