President of the National House of Chiefs has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for appointing former Attorney General, Martin Amidu, to head the country’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (SP).
Togbe Afede XIV said he was particularly happy about the level of accountability under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo so far.
Togbe Afede who is also the Agbogbomfia of Asogli State lauded the efforts of the President at the first general meeting of the National House of Chiefs on Thursday 15 February 2018 in Kumasi.
He also applauded Appointments Committee of Parliament for endorsing the president’s nominee for the position of Special Prosecutor.
“I’m happy about the interest of accountability demonstrated so far because we can’t develop without accountability,” he said.
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 Akufo-Addo on January 11, 2018.
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.
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.
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