Politicians make corruption a mild offense – Martin Amidu

The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, has highlighted the resurging problem faced by African governments in the fight against corruption.

He lamented that members of the political elite are usually let off the hook when they indulge in corrupt activities; a situation he expressed as “making corruption a low-risk enterprise”.

The aggrieved former Attorney General who was speaking to veteran broadcast journalist David Ampofo intimated that many people have been ‘forced to join’ the canker because they can’t do anything about it but need to survive economically.

“…It is the political elite who rule the nation, who lower the bar and make corruption a low-risk enterprise. And the people can’t do anything about it. Some of them have to join because they have to survive. If the economic means of substance for the nation is being looted and taken away and you must survive, what do you do?” he quizzed.

Mr. Amidu again lamented on the short stints political elites who are jailed for corruption serve in prison even when they are found guilty.

“…in Africa, even when the elite are convicted for corruption they are pardoned in no time; you look at our constitutional history since 1993. Almost all those who have been convicted and our political elite have been pardoned in less than two years; and yet when you steal plantain, you get 5 years, 10 years you serve all your term,” he added.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor was set up by the Akufo-Addo government to tackle corruption head-on and prosecute officials who found culpable of causing financial loss to the state.

The institution is however yet to make any prominent headway since its commission due to numerous challenges outlined by the outfit.

According to Mr Martin Amidu, heads of public institutions, as well as appointees of the government, are two of many setbacks as they keep obstructing the duties of his office.

Some anti-corruption crusaders have named this administration as the most corrupt despite gains by corruption index surveys suggesting that this government has improved in the ranks regarding the fight against the menace throughout the years.