Akufo-Addo tried to convince me not to release Agyapa report – Martin Amidu

Mr. Martin Amidu, the Special Prosecutor, has accused President Akufo Addo of trying to get him to report on the Agyapa Royalties Transaction.

Martin Amidu expressed his dissatisfaction with the President and his appointees in his letter of resignation to the President on Monday 16 November 2020 with respect to the excessive interference with the discharge of his duties.

Mr. Martin Amidu announced that President Akufo Addo had instructed the Chief of Staff, Frema Opare, after releasing the Agyapa Royalties survey, to invite him to the Presidency.

After receiving my letter of reference on 19 October, you directed your Chief of Staff to send an urgent message to me directly on the same day, on 20 October. She decided to invite me in writing, in her letter with reference number OP/COS/015 and dated 20 October 2020, when she could not reach me on the phone, saying that I was directed by H.E the President of the Republic to send an urgent message to you personally today, 20 October 2020. I look forward to seeing you here as asked.’

Mr. Amidu clarified that the next day, he received a letter from the Chief of Staff and proceeded to meet her.

He notes that he was informed by the Chief of Staff that the President had ordered him to do nothing on the Agyapa Royalties Transaction report until the two had met.

Mr. Amidu further disclosed that on October 23rd, 2020, he met with President Akufo Addo. He states that in their meeting, the President insisted that he denied any decisions that he wanted to take on the Agyapa report.

This, he says, made him unhappy and that while he reluctantly agreed to the terms of the President, he gave him notice of his intention to resign as Special Prosecutor because of the intervention of the President in his job.

Earlier in his findings, the Special Prosecutor had indicted the Minister of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori Atta, who is a relative of the President, for using his office in the Agyapa Royalties saga to perpetrate illicit personal benefits.