President Nana Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is being equipped to carry out its mandate and Ghanaians will feel the impact soon.
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, 28 September 2018, when he addressed a townhall meeting of Ghanaians resident in Washington DC, as part of his trip to the United States of America for the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“The office has been established by law and contrary to a lot of things the efforts are being made to make sure that the office is functional. I think very soon, all of you will see that indeed, the office is functional,” Mr Akufo-Addo said.
Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, has expressed frustrations about several challenges experienced by his office.
The recent was his outburst over the level of cooperation he receives from the executive on his work.
Mr Amidu claimed ministers have refused to offer him the kind of support he requires to be able to deliver on his mandate.
He said it will be difficult for him to do his job without the cooperation of the relevant state agencies.
“You ask for information you can’t get it, you ask for a docket, the docket cannot be produced. You ask a minister for a record, the record cannot be produced. How do you fight corruption when those appointed by the president who has a vision are not coordinating with the office of the special prosecutor to achieve his mandate? That is the challenge we have to face,” he said at the National Audit Forum organised by the Ghana Audit Service.
Mr Amidu said he has been working with common sense ever since he was sworn into office because there is no legislation guiding his work.
“I am saying this for the public to understand that we have set up an office. We have to organise that office, have the requisite personnel. It does not take one day. The law says 90 days after the assumption of office of the Special Prosecutor, pursuant legislation must be enacted, but as I speak today, I have no legislation so I use my common sense.”
He noted that his reputation alone as an anti-graft campaigner cannot fight corruption and, therefore, called on the government to resource his office to enable him to work effectively.