The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has denied allegations of interference levelled against him by the former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu.
In a nine-page response to Martin Amidu, a day after his resignation, the president described as “errors of fact” claims by the former independent prosecutor he [Akufo-Addo] was hindering his work.
“It must be made clear that throughout your tenure as Special Prosecutor, neither the President nor any member of his government has interfered or sought to interfere with your work,” the President’s statement said.
Martin Amidu on Monday November 16, 2020 resigned unexpectedly from office as the country’s Special Prosecutor.
Among other things, he cited interference by the government in his work although he is supposed to be independent. He also cited the death of former President Jerry John Rawlings who to him, was a source of protection from the threats on his life after conducting a corruption risk assessment on the controversial Agyapa Mineral Royalties deal.
But President Akufo-Addo in addressing the matter said Martin Amidu cannot base his claim of interference in his work on a meeting the two of them had.
The president said he had no hand in Mr. Amidu’s work and found it “baffling.”
“Your accusation of interference with your functions simply on account of the meeting the President held with you is perplexing. In exercise of what you considered to be your powers under Act 959, you had voluntarily proceeded to produce the Agyapa Report. The President had no hand in your work,” President Akufo-Addo indicated in his response.
“It is baffling that you would present a summary report of work, not commissioned by the President or a member of the Executive, to him and expect him not to act on the report, particularly in light of the clear expression by your good self that the report was supposed to guide future executive actions,” he added.
Check out the full statement below;
