President Akufo-Addo has accepted the resignation of Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu.
Amidu resigned from his position on Monday, citing political interference with his work.
In an acceptance letter, the Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare conveyed the President’s appreciation to the former Attorney General under the Atta-Mills government.
In a letter addressed to President Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr Amidu said his decision is to enable the president to take steps to appoint a replacement as required by law.
In what sounds like a protest, Mr Amidu says he had accepted to be nominated as the Special Prosecutor on one condition – the president’s “firm promise to respect and ensure same by your Government for my independence and freedom of action as the Special Prosecutor”.
According to Martin Amidu, who personally announced his resignation publicly, his decision to go public with his resignation was advised by developments proceeding his report on the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions and related matters, describing those developments as “traumatic experience”.
He added that “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. 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. This has not been possible for several reasons. 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.”
Impact on election 2020
Popular anti-corruption crusader and former Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Constituency Paul Collins Appiah Ofori has “will not affect the NPP chances in the election 2020. The NDC cannot use this for the campaign though they are happy he has resigned. The NDC has sacked Amidu from the party so they have nothing to say about him because he exposed corruption in the NDC that was why he was sacked.”
Below is the chief of staff’s full letter to Amidu:
