Investigate AG's statement -NPP man

Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw has called for an immediate investigation into the statement issued by the Attorney General’s Department in its claim to have given support to Mr Martin Amidu in his case against Waterville Holdings.

According to the MP, the AG’s Department has been “hypocritical” in its handling of the matter.

He said on Asempa FM Wednesday that the statement was in contradiction to the former Deputy Attorney General, Ebo Barton-Oduro’s earlier comments that the state did not have any case against Waterville Holdings and that any attempt to defend the actions brought against it would have resulted in further liabilities and thus questioned how the AG's Department got documents to support Mr Martin Amidu.

“Wasn’t it Barton-Oduro who is now current first Deputy Speaker of Parliament who said the money was paid because the state didn’t have any case? So where did the current AG get the documents and information to support Martin Amidu. This is calling for the immediate investigation of what Barton Oduro said then and today what has come out,” he said.

According to Mr Osei Ameyaw, the statement by the AG’s Department was “self-seeking,” adding that, “It’s seeking to bury Barton Oduro and all those associated with the payment of Waterville. This is a reasonable inference you can draw from this statement. This is seeking to gain some of the shine and limelight that Amidu has gained."

He expressed shock about the “sudden U-turn” by the AG’s Department, saying that “they are embarrassed by their inactions.
They are taking cover that they made research. We must be ashamed of ourselves.”

“…their concern by the media, the way the media has taken the AG’s office on, the way the former president has taken the AG’s office on and the way Ghanaians are talking about the AG’s has caused them to issue this statement that prior to the institution of both cases by Mr. Amidu in the Supreme Court, the Attorney General’s Office had already initiated action in the High Court to set aside the consent judgments in the case against Woyome and Isofotun,” he added.

In his opinion, “the Attorney General’s Department has been displaced as the first law officers of the land.”

Mr Osei Ameyaw further described the action by the department as “a charade, and a cover that showed the ineptitude of the AG’s office.”

He opined that the statement called for the immediate reinstatement of Mr Martin Amidu as Attorney General and Minister of Justice and, therefore, called on President Mahama to call Mr Amidu to take charge of the department.

The Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department says it gave Mr Martin Amidu the needed support in his case against Waterville Holdings.

A statement issued by the Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine said “the Attorney General’s office researched and supported the filing of processes leading to our identification with and support for Mr. Amidu in the matter of Martin Amidu vrs. Attorney General, Waterville (BVI) Holdings, Austro-‐Invest and Alfred Woyome.”

The statement further said the AG’s Department has also extended similar support to Mr. Amidu in his case against the Attorney General, Isofotun SA and Anana-Agyei Forson for which judgment is expected to be given this Friday June 21.

By Jasmine Arku/Graphic.com.gh
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