The Appointments Committee of Parliament will today February 13, 2018, vet President Akufo-Addo’s nominee for the Office of Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, regardless of a lawsuit challenging the nomination.
NDC MP Dr Dominic Ayine has sued the State challenging the eligibility of Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor nominee due to his age.
The lawsuit, which was filed at the Supreme Court on Monday, February 12, 2018, did not place an injunction on the vetting process but is praying the court to annul the entire process if it finds merit in the case against Martin Amidu.
Dr 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 seven 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);
e) A declaration that by reason of his age, (66 years), Martin Amidu is not qualified or eligible to be appointed by His Excellency the President of the Republic as the Special Prosecutor under Section 13(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959)
f) A declaration that any purported nomination by the Attorney General or approval by Parliament or appointment by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor under Sections 13(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2018 (Act 959), is unconstitutional, and therefore, null and void;
g) In the event Martin Amidu has already been vetted and approved by Parliament and /or appointed by His Excellency the President of the Republic as the Special Prosecutor under Section 13(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act 2018 (Act 959) prior to the final determination of this suit, an order annulling such nomination, approval and appointment.
Meanwhile, Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak has stated that unless the Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye directs the Committee to do otherwise, the public hearing scheduled for Today will come on as planned.
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primenewsghana.com/Ghana News