President refers nomination of Special Prosecutor to Parliament

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has officially communicated the nomination of Mr Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu as the Special Prosecutor to Parliament.

In line with that, the Speaker of Parliament, Prof.  Mike Oquaye, yesterday referred the President’s nominee to the Appointments Committee of the House following the official communication.

Act with dispatch

Though the Speaker did not indicate when the nominee would appear before the Committee to be vetted, he conveyed the President’s message to the House to deal with the nomination with as much dispatch as it had done with the ministerial appointments.

“It is my respectful hope and expectation that the dispatch which characterised the approval of my ministerianominees by parliament last year will be extended to the consideration of Mr Martin Amidu’s appointment,” the communication from the presidency said.

The President on January 11, 2018, making the announcement said the Attorney General, Ms Gloria Akuffo, by a letter dated Thursday, 11th January, 2018, exercised her power of nomination, and submitted to him, for his acceptance, the name of Mr Amidu as the proposed Special Prosecutor.

“I have accepted the Attorney General’s nomination, and will, in turn, submit for Parliament’s approval, when it reconvenes on 23rd January, 2018, for its first meeting of this new year, the name of Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu to be the first Special Prosecutor under the law,” the President had said.

Prior to the announcement, the names of prominent lawyers - Mr Akoto-Ampaw, Mr Phillip Addison and Mr Yoni Kulendi – who had all worked at the chambers of Akufo-Addo Prempeh and Co. under President Akufo-Addo were named as likely candidates for the position.

Writer’s email: sebastian.syme@graphic.com.gh