State paying lip service to corruption fight – Martin Amidu

Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has expressed his utter disappointment in what appears to be a collusion among state actors to frustrate and disrupt his fight against corruption in Ghana. He noted that the government has an uphill task to win the fight against corruption because heads of institutions do not take that quest “seriously”. Though he fell short of naming and shaming, he said the “refusal and failure” of public officers to comply with regulations intended to aid the fight against corruption and other crimes has contributed to the notion by many that he is sleeping on the job. The Special Prosecutor, for instance, accused heads of institutions of protecting persons under them who are suspected to have committed crimes. “This demonstrates that this Government’s fight against corruption has a long journey to go unless some drastic action is taken against defaulting heads of institutions as suggested by the Public Services Commission.” Considering the frustration he is enduring, Mr. Amidu wondered if the state is committed to winning the fight against corruption. “A country whose Parliament and Executive coordinate in Parliament in a bi-partisan manner to delay trials and justice within a reasonable time when it comes to prosecuting any of its members for corruption cannot seriously convince the outside world that it is not only paying lip service to fighting the canker.” He however commended the President, the Minister of Finance, the Chief of Staff, the Auditor General, the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, and the Financial Intelligence Center for being supportive of his fight against corruption. “But the response by other heads of institutions to the instructions from the Executive Branch appears to have been treated with impunity as far as the records show. “Corruption cannot be fought on the so-called reputation of a few people. Every citizen needs to get involved now before the canker consumes the whole body politic.” Meanwhile, Martin Amidu has threatened to sue the Attorney General to compel heads of institutions to comply with corruption laws, stressing that Office of the Special Prosecutor alone cannot fight corruption. Read: ‘Frustrated’ Martin Amidu threatens to sue Attorney General in corruption fight Source: 3news.com | Ghana]]>