Parliament will on Tuesday decide on whether or not to approve the nomination of former Attorney General Martin Amidu, as the head of Ghana’s newly established anti-graft institution, the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu announced the Appointments Committee of Parliament is scheduled to present its report on Mr. Amidu’s nomination to the House on Tuesday, February 20.
“The appointments committee may submit their report, the report on the president’s nomination of Mr. Martin Alamisi Benz Kaiser Amidu as Special Prosecutor. Mr. Speaker, the report may be adopted by the House on the same day or perhaps the ensuing day,” he said while delivering the business statement for next week.
Mr. Amidu who was subjected to a rigorous seven-hour vetting on February 13 by the Appointment’s Committee of Parliament following his appointment by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on January 11, 2018.
His nomination came less than 10 days after the president assented to the Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill, together with four other bills.
In the President’s view, Mr. Amidu has “the requisite integrity, competence, courage and independence of character to discharge effectively the responsibilities of this new office”.
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On the eve of his vetting, Member of Parliament for Bolgantanga East, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, filed a suit at the Supreme Court to challenge the nomination of Mr. Amidu for the post on grounds that he is too old to assume that public office.
It is his contention that by reason of his age (66), the anti-graft campaigner is not qualified or eligible to be approved by Parliament as the Special Prosecutor under Section 13(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959).
“I pray therefore that [Mr Amidu’s] nomination and appointment be declared null and void and of no effect. If, notwithstanding the pendency of this suit, Parliament proceeds to approve his appointment, I pray also that such approval should be declared null and void and of no effect.”
Despite the suit, the Appointments Committee proceeded to vet the nominee who many have described as the best person for the Office of Special Prosecutor despite criticism of being temperamental and egoistic among other things.
But for the MP for Tamale Tamale North Alhassan Suhiyini who voted against the nominee, Mr. Amidu would have received unanimous approval from the members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament.
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