Martin Amidu grabs GHC180m to fight corruption

The problems of the Special Prosecutor, Martin Alamisi Amidu, may soon end, as his office has been allocated GH¢180 million to fight corruption.

According to the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, the Office of the Special Prosecutor would receive GH¢180 million in the 2019 budget to carry out his assignment of fighting corruption.

He said the move is in line with the commitment of the current Akufo-Addo administration to fighting corruption.

“In this budget, the Special Prosecutor’s Office has been allocated an amount of GH¢180m from GoG with a commitment to provide additional resources during the course of 2019 to enable the Special Prosecutor’s Office carry out its mandate,” the minister said during the presentation of the 2019 budget statement in Parliament yesterday.

In line with government’s promise to protect the public purse, President Akufo-Addo created the Office of the Special Prosecutor when he took office.

A bill was assented to five days to the first anniversary of the government and Martin Amidu subsequently appointed to head the Office.

The Legislative Instrument, which will prescribe the procedure for reporting corruption to the Special Prosecutor and how corruption-related cases should be handled and convictions secured, has reached Parliament, and it is hoped that the House can pass it before the close of the year, the minister said.

Mr Ofori-Atta said the Special Prosecutor’s Office is one of the topmost priorities of government, and that aside from the allocation, government would in the course of next year provide more resources for the Special Prosecutor to perform his duties without hitches.

The minister also stated that government would restructure and strengthen the Internal Audit Function in the public sector to play its expected role in ensuring effective risk management, control and improvements in governance processes in the public sector.