Speaker refers Martin Amidu’s nomination to Appointments Committee

pulse-ghana admin

January 25, 2018 2:04 AM

Earlier this month, President Akufo-Addo nominated Mr. Amidu to occupy the office of Special Prosecutor.

The Speaker of Parliament, Prof.

Earlier this month, President Akufo-Addo nominated Mr. Amidu to occupy the position of Special Prosecutor following an emergency cabinet meeting at the Flagstaff House.

The vetting of the former Attorney-General is expected to start soon after the President formally communicated his nomination to Parliament on Wednesday.

In a letter addressed to Parliament, President Akufo-Addo entreated the House to deal with the nomination with as much dispatch as it had done with ministerial appointments.

“It is my respectful hope and expectation that the dispatch which characterized the approval of my Ministerial-nominees by Parliament last year will be extended to the consideration of Mr. Martin Amidu’s appointment,” sections of the letter said, as read by the Speaker.

Prof. Ocquaye has subsequently referred Mr. Martin Amidu's nomination to Parliament's Appointments Committee, with the way now cleared for his vetting to start.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor will be mandated to investigate and prosecute cases of alleged corruption under the Public Procurement Act 203 Act 63 and other corruption-related offences implicating public officers, political office holders and their accomplices in the public sector.

The Prosecutor will also be mandated to trace and recover the proceeds of corruption.

Mr. Amidu previously served as Attorney-General during Rawlings’ two terms as Ghana President.

He also served in the same role for a year under the late President John Evans Atta-Mills between 2011 and 2012.

Barring any last-minute mishaps, Mr. Amidu is expected to be officially confirmed as Ghana’s first Independent Special Prosecutor after being vetted and approved by Parliament.

His nomination has been hailed by many Ghanaians, who believe his track record of fighting corruptions makes him perfectly suited for the role.

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