Parliament will today, Tuesday, February 20, 2018, examine the report of the Appointments Committee on the nomination of Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor.
Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, indicated that the House will take a decision on Mr. Amidu’s nomination Tuesdays after the appointments committee submits their report.
“The Appointments Committee may submit their report, the report on the president’s nomination of Mr. Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu as Special Prosecutor. Mr. Speaker, the report may be adopted by the House on the same day or perhaps the ensuing day,†he added.
The Appointments Committee of Parliament unanimously recommended the approval of Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor after nine hours of vetting him in Parliament on Tuesday, February 13, 2018.
First Deputy Majority Whip in Parliament and also a member of the Appointments Committee Matthew Nyindam said the committee after the hearing within ten minutes decided to unanimously approve Martin Amidu as the first Special Prosecutor for Ghana.
On Tuesday, February 13, Martin A.B.K Amidu appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee to be vetted, despite a lawsuit challenging his nomination.
The vetting lasted for over 7 hours with the Special prosecutor answering over 180 questions. It appears to be the longest vetting session for a single individual in Parliament.
Mr. Amidu’s public vetting has received widespread commendation as many stakeholders believe he performed creditably.
Martin Amidu facing lawsuit
NDC MP Dr. Dominic Ayine has sued the State challenging the eligibility of Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor nominee due to his age.
Dr. Dominic Ayine, who is the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Bolgatanga East, is praying the Supreme Court to halt the appointment because 66-year-old Amidu is gone past the retirement age for public office holders.
Dr. Dominic Ayine is seeking these reliefs:
a) A declaration that by a true and proper interpretation of Articles 190(1)(d), 199(1), 199(4), and 295 of the 1992 Constitution, the retirement age of all holders of public offices created pursuant to Article 190 (1)(d) is sixty (60) years, anyhow not beyond sixty-five (65) years;
b) A declaration that by a true and proper interpretation of Articles 190(1)(d), 199(1), 199(4) of the 1992 Constitution, no person above the age of 65 years is eligible for employment in any public office created under Article 190(1)(d);
c) A declaration that by reason of his age (66 years), Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu is not qualified or eligible to be nominated as the Special Prosecutor under section 13(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959);