Martin Amidu resigns as Special Prosecutor

Accra, Nov. 16, GNA – Mr Martin A. B. K Amidu, has resigned from his position the Special Prosecutor.

The Special Prosecutor submitted his letter of resignation with reference number OSP/2/AM/14 dated Monday November 16, 2020, which was received at the Office of the President at 15:15 HRS.

A statement issued by Mr Amidu said: “l should not ordinarily be announcing my resignation to the public myself but for traumatic experience I went through from October 2020 to November 2 2020.”

He said the reason for his public announcement was when he 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 to the President.

He said the Chairman of the National Security Council cautioned “against bringing my resignation as the Special Prosecutor with immediate effect to the notice of the Ghanaian public and the world.”

Mr Amidu stated that in undertaking the analysis of the risk of prevention of corruption and anti-corruption assessment, he sincerely believed that he 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. 2374).

He said the reaction he received for daring to produce the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption report convinced him beyond any reasonable doubt that he 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 added.

He said it was essential for him to state for the purpose of the records, and contrary to public perceptions, that his appointment letter was received on 5th February 2020 (almost two (2) years after my appointment).

He said the copy addressees made no effort to honour any of the conditions of appointment in terms of emoluments and benefits of the appointment ever since his warrant of appointment was issued on February 23, 2018 to the date of his letter of resignation.

“I accepted the offer on January 10, 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,” he said.

Mr Amidu indicated that “this explained why he has never put the emoluments and benefits of the Office as central to his commitment and his 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.”

He said this has not been possible for several reasons.

The Former Special Prosecutor said his Deputy had also not been paid any emoluments, since her appointment, and there was the need to redress that situation for her now that he was out of the way.

He said the events of November 12, 2020 removed the only protection he had from the threats and plans directed at him for undertaking the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption assessment report and dictated hence his resignation as the Special Prosecutor immediately.

“Fear is the enemy of change and I am prepared from the vacuum created on November 12, 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 said.

He said “I acted professionally throughout in the discharge of my duties and my conscience is the anchor of my strength to face any consequences.”

He expressed gratitude Ghanaians for both the support and criticisms during his tenure.
GNA

Find resignation letter below