The only modus operandi adopted by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the fight against graft is single-handedly clearing his appointees of any wrong doing even before state investigative bodies step in to probe the alleged corruption cases involving those appointees, the National Communications Officer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said.
Speaking at a press conference at the headquarters of the NDC in Accra on Thursday, November 19, Sammy Gyamfi said President Akufo-Addo’s fight against corruption has been abysmal owing to his lack of political will to tackle his appointees accused of engaging in the practice.
He was speaking in relation to the resignation of Martin Alamisi Amidu as the Special Prosecutor, who cited interference by the president in his investigative work on the Agyapa Royalties agreement as one of the reasons for his exit.
“Even more scandalous was the fact that President Akufo-Addo is said to have requested the Special Prosecutor to be allowed to handle the Agyapa deal.
“We are only learning this evening from a leaked tape of Martin Amidu and Citi FM’s Umaru Sanda that President Akufo-Addo and his cousin, the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta, actually went to the House of the Special Prosecutor at a time he was conducting the corruption risk assessment of the Agyapa matter to influence his work.
“President Akufo-Addo has cemented his dubious reputation as the corruption-clearing agent.
“Since assuming office as president, Akufo-Addo’s own ways of fighting corruption has been to sweep serious crimes under the carpet and cleared his errand appointees, his corrupt appointees innocent even before they are investigated.”
In his resignation letter to the president, Mr Amidu said preceding events, particularly on Thursday, November 12 “removed the only protection I had from the threats and plans directed at me for undertaking the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption assessment report and dictates that I resign as the Special Prosecutor immediately”.
President Akufo-Addo, however, vehemently denied interfering with the work of the Mr Amidu.
“Your accusation of interference with your functions simply on account of the meeting the president held with you is perplexing.
“In exercise of what you considered to be your powers under Act 959, you had voluntarily proceeded to produce the Agyapa Report.
“The president had no hand in your work. Without prompting from any quarter within the Executive you delivered a letter purporting to be a copy of you report to the president,” the president said in a statement written on his behalf by the Secretary, Mr Asante Bediatuo.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana