The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, says despite the challenges Martin Amidu encountered when he served as Ghana’s first Special Prosecutor, he should not have resigned from the position.

Martin Amidu resigned from his position as Special Prosecutor on November 16, 2020, after accusing the government of interfering in his work.

In his resignation letter, Mr. Amidu claimed he did not feel secure after releasing a corruption risk assessment report he did on the controversial Agyapa Royalties deal.

Legal practitioner, Kissi Agyebeng was nominated recently to fill the vacant position.

Mr. Agyebeng is yet to be vetted and approved by Parliament.

Even though the Special Prosecutor pursued Mr. Ayariga in the case of alleged procurement breaches in the purchase of an ambulance for his constituency, the Bawku Central legislator believes that Mr. Amidu was best suited for the office and shouldn’t have abandoned his post.

Speaking to Citi News on the issue, the Bawku Central legislator opined that, following the confidence expressed in the office and the personality of Mr. Amidu, he shouldn’t have abandoned his post.

“He [Mr. Amidu] took on a challenge, I was disappointed that he ran away and left it. No matter what President Akufo-Addo did, he should have anticipated that these things are bound to happen when you want to stand against corruption.”

The former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, in a letter addressed to President Nana Akufo-Addo, said his decision “is to enable Your Excellency to take steps to appoint a replacement to that position as required by law.”

He suggested that President Akufo-Addo had not been able to ensure his independence and freedom of action.

“The one condition upon which I accepted to be nominated as the Special Prosecutor when you invited me to your Office on 10th January 2018 was your firm promise to me that you will respect and ensure same by your Government for my independence and freedom of action as the Special Prosecutor,” he stated.

Citing an example of one of the triggers for his resignation and the decision to make it public, the former Attorney General said he had a “traumatic experience” between 20th October 2020 and 2nd November 2020 after releasing his corruption risk assessment on Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions.

He said while he believed that he was executing his mandate independently, the reactions he has received concerning the work made him convinced that he was not expected to exercise his independence as a Special Prosecutor and that makes his work untenable.

He also revealed in the statement that, although his appointment was announced in 2018, he only received his appointment letter on February 5, 2020.

He said there were no efforts to give him the emoluments and benefits due him per his appointment letter.