The Special Prosecutor nominee Martin A.B.K Amidu has said that he accepted the President’s appointment because he wants to prevent the leakages and corruption that has become a menace in the country.
He was answering questions from the Parliament’s Appointment’s Committee when he appeared before the committee on Tuesday (February 13, 2018).
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“It’s important that this country is stabilized to make sure that no one gets the excuse to stage a coup. This can be done when we protect the national purse.”
The vetting of Mr Amidu was in limbo after a former Deputy Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine filed a suit challenging the eligibility of Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor.
Dr Ayine in his suit argues that Martin Amidu, being 66 years of age, is too old to hold public office, under which the Special Prosecutor’s office falls.
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They are therefore seeking a declaration “that by a true and proper interpretation of Articles 190(1)(d), 199(1), 199(4), and 295 of the 1992 Constitution, the retirement age of all holders of public offices created pursuant to Article 190 (1)(d) is sixty (60) years, anyhow not beyond sixty-five (65) years.”
Meanwhile, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Osei Owusu has stated that the age of Amidu cannot disqualify him from becoming the Special Prosecutor.
About Martin Amidu
Martin A. B. K. Amidu was the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice from January 2011 till January 2012 under the late President John Evans Atta-Mills.
Amidu, a member of the NDC, served as the Deputy Attorney-General for about the last four years of the Provisional National Defence Council military government.
After civilian rule was established in the Fourth Republic in January 1993, he continued to serve in the government of Jerry Rawlings as Deputy Attorney-General. This he did for both terms lasting eight years until January 2001.
In the December 2000 presidential elections, he stood as the running mate of John Atta Mills. They both, however, lost to President John Kufuor that year.