Martin Amidu
Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has shrugged off claims that he does not have an office to operate from.
A section of the populace has asserted that the special prosecutor has not begun prosecuting public officials perceived to be corrupt because he has no office.
Mr. Amidu, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice – who is credited for his crusade against corruption – appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on February 13, 2018 where he was grilled for about six hours.
He was overwhelmingly approved by parliament on February 20, 2018 to become Ghana’s first special prosecutor.
But almost two months after the approval, the no-nonsense former Attorney General is yet to prosecute a single case.
Although he has been given the peculiar task of prosecuting officials of the past and the present administrations who have been fingered in corruption acts, the office of the special prosecutor is yet to be formally opened.
There were several media reports that more than a month after his appointment, his office had not been furnished hence, affecting his performance.
Mr. Amidu has been dragged to court by a former deputy attorney general and Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga, Dr. Dominic Ayine, challenging his age to be appointed into the public service.
Although he, together with the Attorney General, have opposed the writ and asked the Supreme Court to dismiss it, it is yet to be heard.
At the premises of the Supreme Court yesterday, Mr Amidu, though unwilling to speak to the media, indicated that the writ would not affect his role.
He said he was doing his work, adding, “I have been sworn in as the special prosecutor. I am going on with my work. I cannot discuss official matters to the press. I am doing my work. Haven’t I come to court?”
Deputy
Meanwhile, DAILY GUIDE has learnt that the state has secured an office for Mr. Amidu at Labone in Accra.
Deep throat sources close to the office have also hinted that former Director of Public Prosecutions, Cynthia Lamptey, is to be named the deputy special prosecutor.
If appointed, she would be reunited with Mr. Amidu, whom she had worked with in the past under the late John Evans Atta Mills administration.
Cynthia Lamptey has over 20 years’ working experience at the Attorney General’s Department until she was relieved of her post in 2015.
She prosecuted land mark cases, including embattled businessman and NDC financier, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, in the GH¢51.2 million judgment debt saga.
She was also in-charge of the prosecution of Alhaji Imoro, former acting director of the National Service Scheme who is standing trial for allegedly stealing GH¢86.9 million belonging to the state.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak