Martin Amidu

Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu is a Ghanaian politician and lawyer who served as Attorney General and Minister for Justice in Ghana from 2011 to 2012 and then as the First Special Prosecutor of the country from 2018 until his resignation in 2020, citing political interference by the President, Nana Akufo-Addo.^[1][2][3] He is also known for introducing the word ‘gargantuan‘, into the body politics of Ghana, when he opened investigations in the Woyome scandal which was one of the highest profiled corruption cases at the time.^[4][5] On 11 January 2018, Martin A.B.K Amidu was named by the President of Ghana as the Special Prosecutor for the newly created Office of the Special Prosecutor.^[6][7] Nana Akufo-Addo touted his anti-corruption fights as Attorney General and a private citizen as reasons for choosing Mr. Amidu, his one-time political adversary.^[8]

Hon. Martin A. B. K. Amidu
21st Attorney General and Minister for Justice
In office Jan 2011 – Jan 2012
President	John Atta Mills
Preceded by	Betty Mould-Iddrisu
Succeeded by	Benjamin Kunbuor
Minister for Interior
In office Jan 2010 – Jan 2011
President	John Atta Mills
Preceded by	Cletus Avoka
Succeeded by	Benjamin Kunbuor
Special Prosecutor
In office Jan 2018 – Nov 2020
Preceded by	New
Succeeded by	Kissi Agyebeng
Personal details
Born	Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu
Nationality	Ghanaian
Political party	National Democratic Congress
Alma mater	University of Ghana Ghana School of Law Antioch University
Website	www.martinamidu.com

Deputy Attorney-General

Amidu served as the Deputy Attorney-General for about the last 4 years as the Special Prosecutor. Amidu is a member of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) After civilian rule was established in the Fourth Republic in January 1993, he continued to serve in the government of Jerry Rawlings as Deputy Attorney-General.^[9] This he did for both terms, lasting eight years until January 2001.^[10][11]

December 2000 presidential election

In the December 2000 presidential elections, he stood as the running mate of John Atta Mills.^[12][13] They both lost to President John Kufuor that year.^[14][15]

Mills government

Minister for Interior

In January 2010, following a cabinet reshuffle, President Mills replaced Cletus Avoka with Amidu, as the Minister for Interior.^[16][17] As Amidu is a Builsa, some people raised questions as to his neutrality in dealing with the Bawku conflict.^[18] He however went successfully through vetting by the Parliament of Ghana and assumed his post.^[19][20]

Attorney General

Following the second major cabinet reshuffle by President Mills, Amidu became the Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Ghana.^[21][22]

Removal from Office

Martin Amidu was relieved of his post on Thursday, January 19, 2012, by President John Evans Atta Mills under circumstances described by aids as 'his misconduct' at a meeting chaired by the president at the Castle on January 18, 2012.^[23][24] He made allegations related to alleged financial impropriety on the part of another cabinet minister, allegations he was asked by the president to substantiate. Martin Amidu, the former Attorney General single-handedly challenged the legality of the payments after being relieved off his post at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court in 2014 ordered Mr. Woyome to pay back the money as Supreme Court judges unanimously granted the Attorney-General clearance to execute the court's judgment, ordering Mr. Woyome to refund the cash to the state. Following the delays in retrieving the money, Mr. Amidu in 2016, filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to examine Alfred Woyome, on how he would pay back the money, after the Attorney General's office under the Mahama Administration, led by the former Minister for Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, discontinued a similar application. In February 2017 however, Mr. Amidu withdrew his suit seeking an oral examination, explaining that the change of government under the New Patriotic Party under His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo and his Attorney General, Miss Gloria Akuffo's assurance to retrieve all judgment debts wrongfully paid to individuals. Mr. Woyome in response prayed the Supreme Court to stay proceedings on the oral examination since he had filed for a review on the case. His lawyer, Ken Anku, argued that, his client will face an irreparable damage if the oral examination is allowed to take place but the deputy Attorney General, Godfred Dame, opposed the application.^[25][26][27]

Special Prosecutor

He was Ghana's first Special prosecutor nominated for parliament's approval. The nomination was announced by the President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo on January 11, 2018.^[28] Martin A.B.K. Amidu was sworn into office on Friday, February 23, 2018, by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Flagstaff House.^[29][30]

Amidu at the swearing in ceremony thanked the Attorney General and the President for appointing him, and promised to fight corruption in the country without fear or favour.^[31]

Martin A. B. K. Amidu Resigns as a Special Prosecutor

Mr. Martin A. B. K. Amidu announced his resignation as a special Prosecutor on the 16 of November, 2020. Mr Amidu cited political interference by his appointer, President Nana Akufo-Addo for his decision.^[32] He said in a letter to the President that his (Akufo-Addo's) reaction and meddling in an investigation he was carrying out "convinces me beyond every reasonable doubt that you had laboured under the mistaken belief that I could hold the Office of Special Prosecutor as poodle”. He added that he was resigning because of “the lack of respect of the independence of his office.” He added that, the reaction received from the presidency in respect of the analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessment of the Agyapa Royalties limited transaction, was the final push that led him to resign. He indicated that his decision is to enable Akufo-Addo “to take steps to appoint a replacement to that position as required by law.”^[33][34][35]

He resigned as the Special prosecutor on 16 November 2020.^[36][37]

See also

• List of Mills government ministers

References

1. "Why Martin Amidu resign as Ghana Special Prosecutor". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
2. "Attorney-General Martin Amidu Was in Office from January 2011 to January 2012". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
3. "Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has resigned". MyJoyOnline. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
4. "GARGANTUAN!! Thank You Hon. Martin Amidu". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
5. "Martin Amidu Explains Why Atta Mills Sacked Him". Pulse Ghana. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
6. Bureau, Communications. "President Akufo-Addo Nominates Martin Amidu As Special Prosecutor". presidency Government of Ghana. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
7. "Parliament approves Amidu as Special Prosecutor today - MyJoyOnline.com". myjoyonline. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
8. "Nana Addo names Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor". Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
9. "Attorney-General Martin Amidu Was in Office from January 2011 to January 2012". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
10. . MyJoyOnline. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
11. "Martin Amidu, Biography". Ghanaweb. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
12. "Rawlings Didn't Like Amidu As Running Mate – Prof Kwamena Ahwoi". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
13. "Rawlings was against Amidu as Mills' running mate for election 2000 - Kwamena Ahwoi". ghanaweb. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
14. "Martin Amidu : The hero of our time". Graphic Online. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
15. FM, Peace. "Ghana Election 2004". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
16. "President Mills reshuffles Ministers". General web. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
17. "Reshuffle Blues: Sena Dansua Heads Sports Ministry". Ghanaweb. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
18. Daily Guide (27 January 2010). "Martin Amidu Is Bad For Bawku Peace". ModernGhana. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
19. "Martin Amidu, Biography". ghanaweb. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
20. "Bawku MP lauds appointment of new Interior Minister - MyJoyOnline.com". myjoyonline. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
21. "Cabinet reshuffle: Zita dropped, Betty for education". Ghana Home Page. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
22. "Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu | Profile | Africa Confidential". africa-confidential. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
23. "Why Martin Amidu was sacked; the Inside Story". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
24. "Today in 2016: Amidu was sacked because he attempted to beat Mills – Woyome". ghanaweb. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
25. "Attorney-General, Martin Amidu, has been sacked - MyJoyOnline.com". myjoyonline. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
26. "Woyome, Amidu showdown in limbo - MyJoyOnline.com". myjoyonline. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
27. "Amidu can cross examine Woyome, Supreme Court rules". ghanaweb. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
28. "Nana Addo names Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor - Ghana News". Ghana News. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
29. "Amidu sworn in as Ghana's first Special Prosecutor". Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
30. Acheampong, Kwame (23 February 2018). "Akufo-Addo to swear in Martin Amidu as SP today". Starr Fm. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
31. "Amidu's Acceptance Speech". 24 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
32. "See Ghana Prez replies to Martin Amidu say he try turn special prosecutor into 'poodle'". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
33. "Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has resigned". MyJoyOnline.com. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
34. "Why Martin Amidu resigned as Special Prosecutor [LETTER TO PRESIDENT]". Graphic Online. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
35. "See Ghana Prez replies to Martin Amidu say he try turn special prosecutor into 'poodle'". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
36. "Martin Amidu resigns as Special Prosecutor". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
37. "Why Martin Amidu resigned as Special Prosecutor [LETTER TO PRESIDENT]". Graphic Online. Retrieved 9 March 2021.

External links

• List of ministers on Ghana government website

Party political offices
Preceded by John Atta Mills	National Democratic Congress Vice presidential candidate 2000	Succeeded by Muhammad Mumuni
Political offices
Preceded by Cletus Avoka	Minister for Interior 2010 – 2011	Succeeded by Benjamin Kunbuor
Preceded by Betty Mould-Iddrisu	Attorney General and Minister for Justice 2011 – 2012	Succeeded by Benjamin Kunbuor