The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has in a press statement on Tuesday stated that neither President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, nor any official in his government interfered in the operations of the Special Prosecutor as has been claimed by the resigned Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu.
The NPP said the Office of the Special Prosecutor since its establishment has enjoyed enormous support from the government.
”Since 2018, he has been offered all the room and support he needed by law and mandate and every money he has requested to set up an entirely new institution, which comes with its challenges, and to operate the Office independently and efficiently. No political office holder has interfered in the administration of that Office,” the statement noted.
It said that the NPP led government is one that thrives on transparency and accountability and that is what exactly led to the formation of the Special Prosecutor’s office as a sign of their zero tolerance for corruption.
The statement further emphasized that the work of the office of the special prosecutor also demands that the principles of natural justice be respected at all times, hence, the NPP does not understand why the president’s step in giving the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta the opportunity to state his case after an anti-corruption risk and corruption risk assessment report was done on the Agyapa deal and the Minister’s role in the deal termed as interference.
The NPP noted that they are in a state of “shock” not because of Martin Amidu’s resignation, but the opportunity he has let go.
“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.”
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The NPP urged President Akufo-Addo to accept the resignation of the Special Prosecutor and initiate processes to find a successor to continue the sensitive and important job of realising the true ambit of the powers of the OSP to ensure the success of the fight against corruption.
By Julius Kwabena Adofo