Attempts to dissuade Amidu's investigations is fruitless - Akufo-Addo

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Aug - 09 - 2018 , 12:17

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reacted to the Special Prosecutor's complaint that there are some attempts to dissuade him from pursuing some criminal investigations.

The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu on Tuesday revealed attempts by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga to stop an investigation into the suspected commission of corruption and corruption-related offences.

Mr Martin Amidu in a statement accused Mr Ayariga of sending some personal friends, former colleagues, chiefs, pastors among others, to beg him [Amidu] to stop the investigations against him [Ayariga].

The Special Prosecutor also stated that as a result of these attempts, he has reported the Bawku Central MP to the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) for attempting to block a probe into the acquisition of three used white Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles after refusing to honour an invitation by EOCO over the matter.

"After undertaking preliminary investigations into the suspected commission of corruption and corruption-related offences including the abuse of public office for private gain by the Honourable Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for the Bawku Central Constituency, my office decided that there were sufficient grounds to invite the suspect for the conduct of full investigations into the allegations," Mr Amidu's statement said.

President Akufo-Addo's reaction

In a tweet on Thursday, President Akufo-Addo said: "To those who are sending chiefs and men of God to the Special Prosecutor to intervene on their behalf, to try to dissuade Mr Martin Amidu from conducting his investigations, from the little I know of the man, they are engaged in a fruitless venture."