One of the corruption cases involving the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga which is being handled by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is… Free subscription Get the news that matters from one of the leading news sites in Ghana A senior opposition lawyer in Ghana and former Attorney-General in the John Atta Mills administration, Mr. Martin Amidu has been named as Ghana’s pioneering Special Prosecutor-designate by President Nana Akufo-Addo. The copy addressees made no efforts to honour any of the conditions of appointment in terms of emoluments and benefits of the appointment ever since my warrant of appointment was issued on 23rd February 2018 to the date of my letter of resignation. It is essential for me to state for the purpose of the records, and contrary to public perceptions, that my appointment letter was received on 5th February 2020 (almost two (2)-years after my appointment). The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has raised red flags against the Agyapa Royalties deal. Mr. Amidu was sworn in today [Friday] at the Flagstaff House in the presence of the Vice President, Chief of Staff, Attorney General and other government officials. Now, my humble questions to … 2016 banking survey reportInternal Revenue (Amendment) Act, 2012 (Act 839)Amendment internal revenue ACT 1Citizenship Constitutional Law NotesCriminal Code 1960KAAF University College. “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. President Nana Akufo-Addo has sworn in Martin Amidu as Ghana’s first Special Prosecutor. This explains why I have never put the emoluments and benefits of the Office as central to my commitment and my passion for the establishment of an independent, effective, efficient and impartial anti-corruption Office of the Special Prosecutor before the end of the first term of Mr. President. President Nana Akufo- Addo. In July, a nine (9) member Governing Board of the Office of the Special Prosecutor was sworn into office pursuant to section five of the special prosecutor act 2017 Act 959. The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, has resigned from his position. The Special Prosecutor, Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu, has resigned from his position, YEN.com.gh can report. Ghana’s Parliament has passed a bill that gives green light to the establishment of the office of a special prosecutor. “It is essential for me to state for the purpose of the records, and contrary to public perceptions, that my appointment letter was received on 5th February 2020 (almost two (2)-years after my appointment). See also. I acted professionally through out in the discharge of my duties and my conscience is the anchor of my strength to face any consequences. In July, a … OpEd On The Resignation of Ghana's Special Prosecutor. I am grateful to every Ghanaian for both the support and criticisms during my tenure. Mr Amidu was the first person to … Ghana First! !, Away!! B. K. AMIDU, THE S. P. The biggest challenge facing the Office of the Special Prosecutor as an anti-corruption investigatory and prosecutorial body in spite of all the powers conferred upon it is not the President who promised the people of Ghana to establish the … The President charged the Deputy Special Prosecutor to execute her mandate without fear, favour or ill-feeling for any manner of person. “In undertaking the analysis of the risk of prevention of corruption and anti-corruption assessment I sincerely believed that I was executing an independent mandate under the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Act, 2017 (Act 959) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L. I. According to the Special Prosecutor, upon … " Pulse Community", By clicking again you agree to our Next ». Nana Addo appointed Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor of Ghana. He has made his mark as a private legal practitioner and in public when he served as the Attorney General of Ghana. The Special Prosecutor position has become vacant following the resignation of Martin Amidu on Monday, November 16. President Nana Akufo-Addo on Thursday, January 11, 2018, nominated the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, for the position of Special Prosecutor. Then today November 16, 2020, the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu resigned, with immediate effect. First, it was the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo, whose persistent application of the laws of disallowance against public officers found to have unlawfully used public money that obviously brought him into clashes with some members of the Executive. RESIGNATION OF APPOINTMENT AS SPECIAL PROSECUTOR WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT: MARTIN A. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would soon embark on Safety Compliance Exercise and any company …, Ghana Business News © Copyright 2021, All Rights Reserved, As Ghana’s anti-corruption institutions struggle to function, Special Prosecutor resigns, on As Ghana’s anti-corruption institutions struggle to function, Special Prosecutor resigns, Inside the News by Mpakoo – All pieces appearing in this column are satire, Ghana Water Company starts rationing in Koforidua, President urges Ghanaians to remain resolute to defeat COVID-19, EPA to close-down environmental safety non-compliance companies, Rampant Hearts cruise past 10-man WAFA to go third, Digitalization: the most impactful and revolutionary policy of Ghana since Independence, Election petition verdict to boost investor confidence, Tragedy of Manso: producing gold, living in abject poverty, WAEC releases 2012 BECE provisional results, Glo Ghana commences launch activities with ‘Number Reservation Campaign’, WAEC releases 2012 WASSCE provisional results, Ghana Immigration Service to train senior immigration officers in sub-region, Nigeria’s Goldie of Big Brother Africa dead, celebs pay tribute, Nigeria’s Finance Minister almost weeps, begs citizens to accept petroleum subsidy removal. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Klopp hopes for Champions League respite for struggling Liverpool, Gilts and glamour on display as Serwaa Amihere marks 31st birthday with pristine shots, The African Development Bank to introduce first women beneficiaries of AFAWA Guarantee for Growth program, Martin Amidu said in a letter addressed to President Nana Akufo-Addo that part of his decision is to to resign was to “enable Your Excellency to take steps to appoint a replacement to that position as required by law.”. The dramatic resignation of Ghanaian Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu, one of West Africa’s most well-known anti-corruption crusaders, could spell doom for a controversial deal he opposed that would sell much of Ghana’s gold futures on the London stock market. The move is seen as a big step in Ghana’s effort to root out corruption. He is a successful lawyer both locally and internationally. Indicating that he hasn’t been paid since he took office, he stated that his deputy, Cynthia Lamptey hasn’t also been paid her emoluments, since her appointment. Read Martin Amidu's resignation letter below: Join the My position as the Special Prosecutor has consequently become clearly untenable. Martin Amidu is the first to hold the position of special prosecutor. !” – Angry constituents chase out deputy defence minister. In his corruption risk assessment, Mr. Amidu argued that consultations over the deal were not comprehensive and innovative enough. !, Away!! Therefore, the Office of the special prosecutor serves as the autonomous body to handle sensitive cases which the Attorney General will otherwise be ineffective at handling. When the real facts of my tenure become well known to the public in the future, history may judge me kindly. This has not been possible for several reasons. In an interview with a local radio station back in October, a director at Ghana’s Center for Democratic Development sounded the alarm over the lack of citizen concern on issues of corruption following a pre-election survey. ... News Ghana is Ghana's leading online news portal for business in West … Ghanaian anti-corruption crusader, Amidu resign as Special Prosecutor for Ghana. B. K. AMIDU, ESQ. He or she is also responsible for the Ministry of Justice. Preview text. The ambassador warned that the special prosecutor should not renege in its quest of ensuring that no public office holder feels immune to prosecutions. Special Prosecutor doesn’t need MPs approval – Martin Amidu. Amidu’s appointment raised not only hopes that the Akufo-Addo administration was interested in fighting corruption, it also improved Ghana’s image in … Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has resigned from his office with immediate effect over interference in his work. B. K. Amidu referred the case to the CID of the Ghana Police Service. Ace Ankomah: The Office of the Special Prosecutor. Mr Martin A.B.K Amidu is eligible to be the Special Prosecutor, as his appointment did not contravene the 1992 Constitution, the Supreme Court has declared. READ ALSO: “Away!! 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 16th November 2020 which was received at the Office of the President at 15:15 HRS this afternoon. Submit your stories now via social or: Thank you! The Attorney General also serves as a member of the General Legal Council which regulates legal practice in Ghana. She said as the chair of the board, she did not know about current investigations at the office, neither did any board member. 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 … The office serves as an independent investigating and prosecution body to make inquiries into corruption, bribery, or other criminal cases at the national level whether they be in public or private sector. In the letter, … Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 Act 959 ARRANGEMENT OF … The special prosecutor Martin Amidu has resigned! Martin Amidu has resigned from his position as the Special Prosecutor (SP) of the Republic of Ghana.. Taking account of the amount that was rolled over from the year 2019, the account of the Office of the Special Prosecutor at Bank of Ghana, as at 12 November 2020, shows a balance of GH¢47 million. B. K. AMIDU, ESQ. In a letter addressed to President Nana Akufo-Addo, Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu said his decision is to “enable Your Excellency to take steps to appoint a replacement to that position as required by law.”. Ghana’s first special prosecutor to be, Mr. Amidu is known in Ghana and beyond as an astute lawyer who abhors corruption. Nana Addo appointed Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor of Ghana. The source of that report is yet to be established, considering the fact that it is only Parliament that can investigate the Auditor-General, according to the Constitution. In his resignation letter, Amidu said among others that when he did the risk of prevention corruption and anti-corruption assessment of the controversial Agyapa Royalties Limited transactions, the reactions he received, convinced him that he wasn’t intended to exercise any independence in the execution of his job. RESIGNATION OF APPOINTMENT AS SPECIAL PROSECUTOR WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT: MARTIN A. In undertaking the analysis of the risk of prevention of corruption and anti-corruption assessment I sincerely believed that I was executing an independent mandate under the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Act, 2017 (Act 959) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L. I. Corruption in Ghana; References The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has received with shock and dismay, the news of the resignation of the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu. A letter dated announcing his resignation has been submitted to the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The copy addressees made no efforts to honour any of the conditions of appointment in terms of emoluments and benefits of the appointment ever since my warrant of appointment was issued on 23rd February 2018 to the date of my letter of resignation. He was vetted and approved by Parliament and sworn-in by the president. The dramatic resignation of Ghanaian Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu, one of West Africa’s most well-known anti-corruption crusaders, could spell doom for a controversial deal he opposed that would sell much of Ghana’s gold futures on the London stock market. General News, Lead Story His resignation is with immediate effect. Mr Amidu explained that although he thought he was exercising his mandate independently in relation to the controversial deal, the reactions he has received concerning the work makes him convinced that he was not expected to exercise his independence as a Special Prosecutor and that makes his work insupportable. privacy policy and European users agree to data transfer policy. He was eventually forced to go on leave. 2374). Then today November 16, 2020, the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu resigned, with immediate effect. !, Away!! This means that the President must, in accordance with the Office of Special Prosecutor Act 2017, Act 959, nominate a new person to be vetted by Parliament for the post. Comments Off on As Ghana’s anti-corruption institutions struggle to function, Special Prosecutor resigns. !” – Angry constituents chase out deputy defence minister. The Compensation Budget for the Office of Special Prosecutor in 2019 was not utilized because your Office was … READ ALSO: He Wants To Become An MP – Social Media … Taking account of the amount that was rolled over from the year 2019, the account of the Office of the Special Prosecutor at Bank of Ghana, as at 12 November 2020, shows a balance of GH¢47 million. On February 23, 2018, Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu was sworn in by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as Ghana’s Special Prosecutor. Mr Amidu was sworn into office as the first Special Prosecutor on February 23, 2018 after he had received approval from Parliament despite an earlier request for the House to suspend the approval because of a writ against his nomination which was pending at the Supreme Court. Correspondence between the Special Prosecutor’s office and the Chief Director at the Office of the President sighted by Asaase Radio indicates that government adequately resourced the Office of the Special Prosecutor, including the successful securing of a nine-floor Ghana Education Trust Fund building at Ridge, to house the Office of the Special Prosecutor (). B. K. Amidu referred the case to the CID of the Ghana Police Service. Former President John Mahama who is seeking to be president again, is being sought-after by the Special Prosecutor. The Deputy Special Prosecutor has also not been paid any emoluments since her appointment, and there is the need to redress that situation for her now that I am out of the way. Ghana's Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu. Amidu resigned from his position on November 16, 2020, through a letter addressed to the president, Nana Akufo-Addo. The Attorney General of Ghana is the chief legal advisor to the Ghanaian government. In the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Manifesto for Election 2016, Chapter 12, page 135, titled ‘Governance, Corruption and Public Accountability,’ the NPP proposed “to establish, by an Act of Parliament, an Office of the Special Prosecutor.”. 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. The events of 12th November 2020 removed the only protection I had from the threats and plans directed at me for undertaking the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption assessment report and dictates that I resign as the Special Prosecutor immediately. CHALLENGES OF THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN GHANA: BY MARTIN A. The system is not ready to fight corruption; it is fighting those against it – Manasseh. January 25, 2017 by. There are a number of anti-corruption institutions in the country, but they appear incapable of fighting the debilitating menace of corruption, that has been ripping the soul of the country. 2374).”. “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 stated. November 16, 2020 The Office of the Special Prosecutor of Ghana was established after an act of the Parliament of Ghana passed the Office of Special Prosecutor Bill in 2017.. Instead, the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Martin A. Amidu after tendering his resignation, issued a press release to the public. I accepted the offer on 10th January 2018 to be nominated to be Special Prosecutor because Mr. President, and Ghanaians knew I have been an anti-corruption crusader all my life and not an anti-corruption entrepreneur. 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. As a result, he said, “My position as the Special Prosecutor has consequently become clearly untenable.”. Amidu, appointed by Akufo-Addo in January 2018 to fight corruption, says he has realized that he was appointed just to be a puppet and not to actually fight corruption hence he’s resigning his post. Comments (0) Listen to Article. The letter, according to a statement released by Amidu, was submitted to the President Monday afternoon at exactly … Other related documents. I accepted the offer on 10th January 2018,” he said. He was sworn into office on February 23, 2018, after passing a rigorous vetting in Parliament on February 13. Office of the Special Prosecutor and public anxiety. Eyewitness? LISTEN DEC 28, 2017. Dr Dan Boateng: Mr David Apasera is right about ONLY one thing: Ghana's economic development was... joseph: We should have some control on ambulances. Speaking at the event, Mrs Ofori-Kwafo charged Ghanaians to test the supposed list against the law laid out in Section 3 (3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act 2018 (Act 959). The article titled; CHALLENGES OF THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN GHANA: BY MARTIN A. He was vetted and approved by Parliament and sworn-in by the president. « Prev. Instead, the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Martin A. On Thursday 11 th January 2018, news broke of the proposed appointment of Mr. Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu as Special Prosecutor 1. Amidu’s appointment raised not only hopes that the Akufo-Addo administration was interested in fighting corruption, it also improved Ghana’s image in the eyes of the global anti-corruption community. The former Attorney General cited a “traumatic experience” between 20th October 2020 and 2nd November 2020 after releasing his 15-page corruption risk assessment on Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions as one of the reasons for his resignation. Subsequently, a media campaign was waged against him, with State media used to tarnish his reputation with the publication of a report purported to have investigated his travel records and expenses. The nomiination is at the instance of serving Attorney-General, Mrs Sophia Akufo. Mahama is named as a respondent a case of alleged diversion of $13m from the E.O Group, a company with a 3.5% interest in Ghana’s 2007 oil find. According to him, President Akufo-Addo has not been able to ensure his independence and freedom of action, Citinewsroom.com reports. The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, has sent out an invitation to four people to make themselves available to assist in the ongoing investigation into an alleged act of corruption in the purchase of three aircraft from Airbus SE for Ghana. A claim the former President has rubbished. Martin Amidu has resigned from his position as the Special Prosecutor (SP) of the Republic of Ghana.. News Ghana is a leading online news portal for business coverage in Ghana as well as the wider West Africa region. Shock because Mr. Amidu chose to walk away from the golden opportunity of establishing a brand new effective agency, having had the best part of three years to demonstrate and cement his undoubted anti-corruption credentials in doing so. 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,” Martin Amidu’s statement said. According to Amidu, he received his appointment letter two years after he was appointed to the office. Why The Establishment Of A Special Prosecutor In Ghana Is Needless. You have successfully subscribed to receive the pulse.com.gh newsletter pulse.com.gh, Finance ministry is “stonewalling” and delaying Agyapa deal probe – Martin Amidu laments, Martin Amidu has resigned as Special Prosecutor, Don't miss a thing, get the latest updates to fuel your conversation daily, “Away!! In a letter addressed to President Nana Akufo-Addo, Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu said his decision is to “enable Your Excellency to take steps to appoint a replacement to that position as required by law.”. According to de lawyer who Prez Akufo-Addo appoint around January 2018, he … On Thursday 11 th January 2018, news broke of the proposed appointment of Mr. Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu as Special Prosecutor 1. President Akufo-Addo on May 29, 2018, swore into office Ghana’s first Deputy Special Prosecutor, Ms Jane Cynthia Naa Korshie Lamptey. Now, my humble questions to you Mr. Amidu are as follows: 1. !, Away!! The Special Prosecutor of Ghana, Martin Amidu, has resigned from his position three years after his presidential appointment by his His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. While the coverage is broad Tel: +233 234-972-832 or +1-508-812-0505