Akufo-Addo was wrong not to have referred Nyantakyi to Martin Amidu – Inusah Fuseini

The decision by President Akufo-Addo to refer an issue of corruption bothering the presidency to the CID and not the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, has been criticised.

The President on Tuesday, May 22 asked the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi for allegedly soiling the presidency with corruption.

The GFA boss had in a secretly recorded video “seduced investors” to part with 8 million dollars to influence President Akufo-Addo and his vice.

But the former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini told Abena Tabi on TV3’s NewDay, Saturday, “this matter ought to have been referred to the special prosecutor”.

The government, when in opposition, promised to fight corruption with the establishment of a Special Prosecutor’s office, and Inusah Fuseini argued, “this is corruption and should go to the special prosecutor”.

The Member of Parliament for Tamale Central is convinced a hurriedly arranged press conference by a deputy chief of staff, Samuel Abu Jinapor was a face-saving stunt.

“An attempt by his excellency the president to continue to maintain the high moral standards, perceived high moral standards that he has, but recent events clearly have cast doubt on this high moral standards,” he analysed.



Inusah Fuseini is however certain President Akufo-Addo’s request to the police to investigate the matter amounted to an order to the security agency that cannot be “refused”.

“I doubt if the police has a discretion, sitting here I am very much convinced that is an order to the police,” he asserted and protested why the president did not refer the matter to the Interior Minister Ambrose Dery who is also an astute lawyer.

However, looking at the pedigree of Mr. Nyantakyi in the sports arena, the MP doubted if he will “peddle influence” as being accused.

A senior lecturer at the University of Education, Dr. Ahmed Jinapor believe claims by the deputy chief of staff that the president referred the matter to CID after establishing a prima facie case against Mr. Nyantakyi has placed President Akufo-Addo in a tight corner to work had to get “Nyantakyi convicted”.

However, he disagreed with Inusah Fuseini that the police cannot decline invitation to prosecute him if they find evidence contrary to that of the president.

While the MP for Takoradi, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah insisted that what the president did “was right” and not the first time he is doing that, legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu said the special prosecutor “is the best person to handle the matter and not CID”.