Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Martin Alamisi Benz-Kaiser Amidu has been nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the Special Prosecutor.
President Akufo-Addo made the announcement at the Flagstaff House on Thursday.
The announcement comes less than 10 days after the president assented to the Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill, together with four other bills.
President Akufo-Addo underscored the efforts of Mr Amidu, especially his challenge of the judgement debt payment to businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome at the Supreme Court.
“[Mr Amidu has] the requisite integrity, competence, courage and independence of character to discharge effectively the responsibilities of this new office,” President Akufo-Addo said.
The 2000 Vice Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was very vocal against the previous government, accusing members of ripping off the state coffers.
He, therefore, became a well-known anti-corruption campaigner, calling himself Citizen Vigilante.
President Akufo-Addo expressed “hope and expectation” that Parliament’s Vetting and Appointments Committee will act with dispatch – just like it did with his ministerial appointees – by approving his latest nominee “to enable Mr Amidu as soon as possible enter into office to begin work”.
“The Special Prosecutor once approved by Parliament shall have full responsibility and control over the investigation and prosecution of public officers involved in alleged acts of corruption,” he told the gathering including Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Martin A.B.K Amidu was nominated by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akuffo.
He has the powers to prosecute both past and present public officials accused of complicity in corrupt deals.
“Ghanaians will be the ultimate beneficiaries of Martin Amidu’s work.”
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana