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President Akufo-Addo has described as ‘most regrettable’, an assertion by former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu that he was acting as a ‘judge in his own cause’.
This according to the President is because, Mr. Amidu had not alleged that he is, or could be, the subject of adverse findings arising from the assessment report of the Agyapa transaction” and therefore would need to act as a judge to hide something.
In a 9 paged response to Martin Amidu, a day after his resignation as the Special Prosecutor, Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante said the reply from the President is to correct the errors of fact contained in Martin Amidu’s letter of resignation so as to provide a complete public record of the issues.[ads2]
“Finally, you also accuse the President of being a judge in his own cause.
“This is the unkindest cut of all. You did not and have not alleged that the President is, or could be, the subject of adverse findings or investigations arising from your assessment report of the Agyapa transaction.
“It begs belief, therefore, that you would insinuate that the President, has, himself, something to hide and thus seeks to be “a judge in his own cause”.
The reply from the Presidency follows allegations by the former Special Prosecutor that President Akufo-Addo had the mistaken belief that he would hold the Office of the Special Prosecutor as his ‘poodle’.[ads3]
Among other things, Mr. Amidu had also accused the President of interfering in the performance of his duties in relation to the corruption risk assessment report released on the Agyapa Royalties deal.
In his letter, Mr. Amidu said the President attempted to convince him to include a response from Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in his report which he declined because “that would have compromised my independence as the Special Prosecutor.”
He further disclosed that President Akufo-Addo wanted him to ‘shelve’ the report on the Agyapa deal, which he had said would be handled privately.[ads4]
“I also refused to shelve my report to enable you handle the matter which explains my press release to the public on the morning of 2 November 2020 and the follow up with the distribution of the full 64-page Agyapa Royalties Transactions Anti-corruption Assessment Report to the Public.”
“Unbeknown to you that I had published the full 64-page report to the public, you caused a press statement to be made based on my letter dated 16 October 2020 to you under reference which sought to politicize and downplay the seriousness of the professional analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessment reported by my office,” he said
But in the reply from the Presidency, Nana Bediatuo Asante said the President can only be accused of inference and acting as a judge in his own cause if he had a personal interest in the matter; which he does not.
“As a lawyer of many years’ standing, there is no doubt that you know that if one is not a party to or have an interest in a matter, one simply cannot be described as a judge in his own cause.
“That statement is most regrettable,” the letter concluded[ads5]
