Prime News Ghana

Parliament approves Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor

By Maame Aba Afful
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Parliament approves Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor
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Parliament has approved Martin A.B.K Amidu as Ghana's first Special Prosecutor amidst several altercations from both sides of the house during the debate on the Appointment Committee's reports. 

Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Ocquaye in the course of the debate rejected a request by NDC MP for Bolgatanga East constituency, Dr. Dominic Ayine to halt the parliamentary debate on the approval of Martin A.B.K Amidu as Ghana's first Special Prosecutor.

Quoting standing orders of parliament, Dr. Dominic Ayine requested that the speaker rules on whether the house can debate an issue which is being heard by the court.

"I humbly invite the speaker of Parliament, to make a determination in respect of the matter which is pending before the Supreme court on the qualification or eligibility of the nominee who is the subject matter of the report.

On the 12th of February this year, I filed a report before the Supreme court and our parliamentary standing orders require that you determine whether the debate on this matter will not be prejudicial to the interest of the parties since this matter touches directly on the eligibility of the nominee", he said.

Prof Mike Ocquaye, however, ruled that Dr. Dominic Ayine had not provided enough evidence on the issue he raised. He added that the former deputy attorney general did not present any formal notification from the Supreme court proving that there is an ongoing hearing on the matter.

The speaker then proceeded with the debate, as the report of the appointment's committee approving Martin Amidu's nomination had been presented before the house.

Majority leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu described Dr. Ayine's point of order as an incompetent application saying that the evidence provided by the former deputy attorney general was not enough to prove any point.

The Speaker of Parliament after the House had examined the report of recommendation by the appointments committee then approved the nomination of Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor. 

The Appointments Committee of Parliament, with the exception of  Alhassan Suhuyini recommended the approval of Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor after nine hours of vetting him in Parliament on Tuesday, February 13, 2018.

 

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