‘Heads of institutions wantonly disregard statutory requests’ – Martin Amidu

The Special Prosecutor, Martin ABK Amidu, has decried several frustrations his outfit is made to face despite the powers conferred on him. He indicates that a chunk of the obstructions, unfortunately, come from Heads of institutions who wantonly disregard statutory requests made by the Office for information and production of documents to assist in the investigation of corruption and corruption-related offences.

The consistent refusal by these Heads of institutions to comply with laws designed to ensure good governance and to protect the national purse hinders the fight against corruption; a situation he insists may lead him to file suits.

In a statement copied to GhanaWeb, Mr Amidu indicated that, “in spite of the fact that the President has on a number of occasions admonished them on such misconduct. There have also been cases where some heads of institutions have made it their habit to interfere with and undermine the independence of this Office by deliberately running concurrent investigations falling within the jurisdiction of this Office with on-going investigations in this Office for the sole purpose of aborting investigations into corruption and corruption-related offences.”

He noted, some of the foregoing malfeasances has seriously affected the ability of his Office to deliver on its mandate, especially when it must depend on some of these very institutions for seconded staff until it employs its own.

“What is worrying to this Office as an anti-corruption investigation and prosecutorial agency is the refusal of heads of institutions to take steps to enforce basic rules of discipline governing their institutions even when they know that their officers are under investigation, have been cautioned, bailed, and eventually even charged with corruption and corruption-related offences,” the statement reads on.

Read full statement below