Martin Amidu "likely" to resign – Bagbin

General News on Thursday, February 14, 2019

Source: starrfm.com.gh

2019-02-14

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer, Alban Bagbin, said Thursday that the special prosecutor was "likely to give up" due to lack of resources to effectively fight corruption.

Over the months, Martin Amidu lamented the lack of cooperation from government appointees, who provided him with evidence to prosecute corruption cases.

"The current situation in which critical ministries and agencies have failed despite our limited constraints or refused to produce public records on demand to help the office in critical investigations, offenses of several million cedis, shows that of some of his appointees.

"You ask for information that you can not get, you ask for a file, the file can not be produced. You ask for a report from a minister, the minutes can not be produced. How do you fight corruption when the appointees of the visionary president do not coordinate with the special prosecutor's office to fulfill his mandate? This is the challenge we face, "lamented the anti-corruption crusader at a national audit forum organized by the Ghana Audit Service in Accra.

Speaking at the Morning Starr show, Mr. Bagbin said that state institutions charged with fighting corruption were weak because they had not been equipped to fight effectively against the threat.

According to him, he foresees a situation in which the special prosecutor could become frustrated and "he is likely to resign".

"Amidu is a gentleman in the service of his country," said Parliament's second Deputy Speaker Francis Abban.

"He does not have the tool to work and the space. Knowing Martin, he is likely to quit because he would not be there to tarnish his reputation and he does not seek any comfort at all, "said the member for Nadowli-Kaleo.

Fight against horrible corruption

Bagbin described as "horrible" the fight against corruption under the Akufo-Addo government because it is not supported by actions.

He said: "The fight against corruption is horrible. Usually words, words and words, but no action. Because of partisanship, people defend theirs. There are no strong state institutions capable of holding the government to account, it is very bad.

"If we want to fight against corruption, the first thing we need to do is put in place systems to prevent it. It is not a failure of the prosecution, but we have not been able to give them the means to investigate.

"We must give them the instrument to illuminate the darkness. The court does not seek the truth, but the evidence and it is not easy in a situation like the one we have.