“High Corruption and Abuse of Power”: Martin Amidu Criticises Decision to Discontinue Prosecution of Duffuor and Others

A former Attorney General and Minister of Justice under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of late President John Atta Mills, Martin Amidu, has slammed the John Mahama-led government as corrupt.

Amidu, in a statement, criticised the decision to discontinue prosecution of former Bank of Ghana governor and Unibank CEO, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor.

He said the Attorney General, Dominic Akurutinga Ayine’s reasoning for filing the nolle prosequi against Duffuor and his other defendants does not hold water.

“The recovery of the proceeds of crime in a criminal trial can only be justified where a crime has really been committed. Otherwise, the process of criminal justice will be used by the state or rogue public officials as an instrument of extortion from persons suspected of financial crimes or doing favours for the government’s family, friends and cronies,” he said.

“In this case, in the name of asset recovery of percentages of alleged financial crimes without any interest paid on the assets expropriated and profited from four years…what is the need of The Republic Of Ghana extorting moneys from Kwaben Duffuor and his cohort of accused persons if they do not admit any guilt and the republic is capable of achieving recovery at civil law?” Amidu continued.

He said the move can only be described as “high corruption and abuse of power.”

Amidu continued that it’s imperative for all Ghanaians to rise up and push back against this action by the government.

“It is important that patriotic citizens step forward and speak the truth to the government to stop playing tricks with the intellect of the electorate with thieves, psychological media operations in the name of being accountable and transparent,” the former Special Prosecutor said.

His full statement can be seen below.

Analysis of Martin Amidu’s critique of Ayine’s Duffuor move

Martin Amidu has been and continued to be a much-needed voice of conscience in Ghanaian politics

The move by Dominic Ayine and his team was sketchy, and Amidu does a good job of pointing out the flaws in it.

The road to corruption begins with very few steps, and if no pressure is mounted on these acts, other greater acts will follow.

Amidu as always, is playing a very important role in Ghana’s democracy and must be celebrated for it.