Martin Amidu

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = Hon.

| name = Martin A. B. K. Amidu

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| office = 21st Attorney General and Minister for Justice

| term_start = Jan 2011

| term_end = Jan 2012

| president = John Atta Mills

| predecessor = Betty Mould-Iddrisu

| successor = Benjamin Kunbuor

| order2 =

| office2 = Minister for Interior

| term_start2 = Jan 2010

| term_end2 = Jan 2011

| president2 = John Atta Mills

| predecessor2 = Cletus Avoka

| successor2 = Benjamin Kunbuor

| constituency =

| order3 =

| office3 = Special Prosecutor

| term_start3 = Jan 2018

| term_end3 = Nov 2020

|predecessor3=New

|successor3=Kissi Agyebeng

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| birthname = Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu

| nationality = Ghanaian

| party = National Democratic Congress

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| alma_mater = {{unbulleted|University of Ghana|Ghana School of Law|Antioch University}}

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| website = {{url|http://www.martinamidu.com/}}

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Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu is a Ghanaian politician and lawyer who served as Attorney General and Minister for Justice in Ghana from 2011 to 2012 and then as the First Special Prosecutor of the country from 2018 until his resignation in 2020, citing political interference by the President, Nana Akufo-Addo.{{Cite news|title=Why Martin Amidu resign as Ghana Special Prosecutor|work=BBC News Pidgin|url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-54970440|access-date=2021-03-09}}{{Cite web|title=Attorney-General Martin Amidu Was in Office from January 2011 to January 2012|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/983750/attorney-general-martin-amidu-was-in-office-from.html|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-11-16 |title=Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has resigned |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/national/special-prosecutor-martin-amidu-has-resigned/ |access-date=2020-11-17 |website=MyJoyOnline |language=en-US}} He is also known for introducing the word ‘gargantuan‘, into the body politics of Ghana, when he opened investigations in the Woyome scandal which was one of the highest profiled corruption cases at the time.{{Cite web|title=GARGANTUAN!! Thank You Hon. Martin Amidu|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/379142/gargantuan-thank-you-hon-martin-amidu.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2015-03-18|title=Martin Amidu Explains Why Atta Mills Sacked Him|url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/ece-frontpage/woyome-saga-martin-amidu-explains-why-atta-mills-sacked-him/y0s11c5|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Pulse Ghana|language=en-US}} On 11 January 2018, Martin A.B.K Amidu was named by the President of Ghana as the Special Prosecutor for the newly created Office of the Special Prosecutor.{{Cite web |title=President Akufo-Addo Nominates Martin Amidu As Special Prosecutor |url=https://www.presidency.gov.gh/index.php/briefing-room/news-style-2/505-president-akufo-addo-nominates-martin-amidu-as-special-prosecutor |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=presidency.gov.gh |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Parliament approves Amidu as Special Prosecutor today - MyJoyOnline.com |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/parliament-approves-amidu-as-special-prosecutor-today/ |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=myjoyonline |language=en-US}} Nana Akufo-Addo touted his anti-corruption fights as Attorney General and a private citizen as reasons for choosing Mr. Amidu, his one-time political adversary.{{Cite web|date=2018-01-11|title=Nana Addo names Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor|url=http://citifmonline.com/2018/01/nana-addo-names-martin-amidu-special-prosecutor/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always|language=en-US}}{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}

Deputy Attorney-General

Amidu served as the Deputy Attorney-General for about the last 4 years as the Special Prosecutor. Amidu is a member of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) After civilian rule was established in the Fourth Republic in January 1993, he continued to serve in the government of Jerry Rawlings as Deputy Attorney-General.{{Cite web|title=Attorney-General Martin Amidu Was in Office from January 2011 to January 2012|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/983750/attorney-general-martin-amidu-was-in-office-from.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}} This he did for both terms, lasting eight years until January 2001.{{cite news |url=http://news.myjoyonline.com/news/200812/23530.asp |title=Martin Amidu responds to Frank Benneh's allegations |accessdate=2010-06-29 |publisher=MyJoyOnline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413112924/http://news.myjoyonline.com/news/200812/23530.asp |archive-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Martin Amidu, Biography |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/person/Martin-Amidu-3676 |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=Ghanaweb}}

December 2000 presidential election

In the December 2000 presidential elections, he stood as the running mate of John Atta Mills.{{Cite web|title=Rawlings Didn’t Like Amidu As Running Mate – Prof Kwamena Ahwoi|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/1022987/rawlings-didnt-like-amidu-as-running-mate-prof.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-08-14 |title=Rawlings was against Amidu as Mills’ running mate for election 2000 - Kwamena Ahwoi |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Rawlings-was-against-Amidu-as-Mills-running-mate-for-election-2000-Kwamena-Ahwoi-1034101 |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=ghanaweb |language=en}} They both lost to President John Kufuor that year.{{Cite web|title=Martin Amidu : The hero of our time|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/opinion/martin-amidu-the-hero-of-our-time.html|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|last=FM|first=Peace|title=Ghana Election 2004|url=http://ghanaelections.peacefmonline.com/pages/2004/index.php|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Ghana Elections - Peace FM}}

Mills government

=Minister for Interior=

In January 2010, following a cabinet reshuffle, President Mills replaced Cletus Avoka with Amidu, as the Minister for Interior.{{cite news |date=2010-01-25 |title=President Mills reshuffles Ministers |work=General web |publisher= |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=175750 |accessdate=2010-06-29}}{{cite news |date=2010-01-26 |title=Reshuffle Blues: Sena Dansua Heads Sports Ministry. |work=Ghanaweb |publisher= |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=175763 |accessdate=2010-06-29}} As Amidu is a Builsa, some people raised questions as to his neutrality in dealing with the Bawku conflict.{{cite news |author=Daily Guide |date=2010-01-27 |title=Martin Amidu Is Bad For Bawku Peace |publisher=ModernGhana. |url=http://www.modernghana.com/news/261113/1/martin-amidu-is-bad-for-bawku-peace.html |accessdate=2010-06-29}} He however went successfully through vetting by the Parliament of Ghana and assumed his post.{{Cite web |title=Martin Amidu, Biography |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/person/Martin-Amidu-3676 |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=ghanaweb}}{{Cite web |title=Bawku MP lauds appointment of new Interior Minister - MyJoyOnline.com |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/bawku-mp-lauds-appointment-of-new-interior-minister/ |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=myjoyonline |language=en-US}}

=Attorney General=

Following the second major cabinet reshuffle by President Mills, Amidu became the Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Ghana.{{cite news |url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=200624 |title=Cabinet reshuffle: Zita dropped, Betty for education |accessdate=2011-01-28 |date=2011-01-04 |publisher=Ghana Home Page}}{{Cite web |title=Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu {{!}} Profile {{!}} Africa Confidential |url=https://www.africa-confidential.com/profile/id/4075/Martin_Amidu |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=africa-confidential |language=en}}

== Removal from Office ==

Martin Amidu was relieved of his post on Thursday, January 19, 2012, by President John Evans Atta Mills under circumstances described by aids as 'his misconduct' at a meeting chaired by the president at the Castle on January 18, 2012.{{Cite web|title=Why Martin Amidu was sacked; the Inside Story|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/424465/why-martin-amidu-was-sacked-the-inside-story.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-11-18 |title=Today in 2016: Amidu was sacked because he attempted to beat Mills – Woyome |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Today-in-2016-Amidu-was-sacked-because-he-attempted-to-beat-Mills-Woyome-800096 |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=ghanaweb |language=en}} He made allegations related to alleged financial impropriety on the part of another cabinet minister, allegations he was asked by the president to substantiate. Martin Amidu, the former Attorney General single-handedly challenged the legality of the payments after being relieved off his post at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court in 2014 ordered Mr. Woyome to pay back the money as Supreme Court judges unanimously granted the Attorney-General clearance to execute the court's judgment, ordering Mr. Woyome to refund the cash to the state. Following the delays in retrieving the money, Mr. Amidu in 2016, filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to examine Alfred Woyome, on how he would pay back the money, after the Attorney General's office under the Mahama Administration, led by the former Minister for Justice, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, discontinued a similar application. In February 2017 however, Mr. Amidu withdrew his suit seeking an oral examination, explaining that the change of government under the New Patriotic Party under His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo and his Attorney General, Miss Gloria Akuffo's assurance to retrieve all judgment debts wrongfully paid to individuals. Mr. Woyome in response prayed the Supreme Court to stay proceedings on the oral examination since he had filed for a review on the case. His lawyer, Ken Anku, argued that, his client will face an irreparable damage if the oral examination is allowed to take place but the deputy Attorney General, Godfred Dame, opposed the application.{{Cite web |title=Attorney-General, Martin Amidu, has been sacked - MyJoyOnline.com |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/attorney-general-martin-amidu-has-been-sacked/ |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=myjoyonline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Woyome, Amidu showdown in limbo - MyJoyOnline.com |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/woyome-amidu-showdown-in-limbo/ |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=myjoyonline. |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2016-11-16 |title=Amidu can cross examine Woyome, Supreme Court rules |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Amidu-can-cross-examine-Woyome-Supreme-Court-rules-487308 |access-date=2021-03-09 |website=ghanaweb |language=en}}

Special Prosecutor

He was Ghana's first Special prosecutor nominated for parliament's approval. The nomination was announced by the President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo on January 11, 2018.{{Cite news|url=http://citifmonline.com/2018/01/11/nana-addo-names-martin-amidu-special-prosecutor/|title=Nana Addo names Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor - Ghana News|date=2018-01-11|work=Ghana News|access-date=2018-01-11|language=en-US}} Martin A.B.K. Amidu was sworn into office on Friday, February 23, 2018, by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Flagstaff House.{{Cite web|date=2018-02-23|title=Amidu sworn in as Ghana’s first Special Prosecutor|url=https://citifmonline.com/2018/02/amidu-sworn-in-as-ghanas-first-special-prosecutor/|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Acheampong|first=Kwame|date=2018-02-23|title=Akufo-Addo to swear in Martin Amidu as SP today|url=https://starrfm.com.gh/2018/02/akufo-addo-swear-martin-amidu-sp-today/|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Starr Fm|language=en-US}}

Amidu at the swearing in ceremony thanked the Attorney General and the President for appointing him, and promised to fight corruption in the country without fear or favour.{{Cite web|url=http://citifmonline.com/2018/02/24/amidus-acceptance-speech-at-his-swearing-in-full-text/|title=Amidu's Acceptance Speech|date=2018-02-24|url-status=|access-date=2019-02-04}}

= Martin A. B. K. Amidu Resigns as a Special Prosecutor =

Mr. Martin A. B. K. Amidu announced his resignation as a special Prosecutor on the 16 of November, 2020. Mr Amidu cited political interference by his appointer, President Nana Akufo-Addo for his decision.{{Cite news|title=See Ghana Prez replies to Martin Amidu say he try turn special prosecutor into 'poodle'|work=BBC News Pidgin|url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-54983813|access-date=2021-03-09}} He said in a letter to the President that his (Akufo-Addo's) reaction and meddling in an investigation he was carrying out "convinces me beyond every reasonable doubt that you had laboured under the mistaken belief that I could hold the Office of Special Prosecutor as poodle”. He added that he was resigning because of “the lack of respect of the independence of his office.” He added that, the reaction received from the presidency in respect of the analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessment of the Agyapa Royalties limited transaction, was the final push that led him to resign. He indicated that his decision is to enable Akufo-Addo “to take steps to appoint a replacement to that position as required by law.”{{Cite web|date=2020-11-16|title=Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has resigned|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/national/special-prosecutor-martin-amidu-has-resigned/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=MyJoyOnline.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Why Martin Amidu resigned as Special Prosecutor [LETTER TO PRESIDENT]|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/why-martin-amidu-resigned-as-special-prosecutor.html|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb}}{{Cite news|title=See Ghana Prez replies to Martin Amidu say he try turn special prosecutor into 'poodle'|work=BBC News Pidgin|url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-54983813|access-date=2021-03-09}}

He resigned as the Special prosecutor on 16 November 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-16|title=Martin Amidu resigns as Special Prosecutor|url=https://citinewsroom.com/2020/11/martin-amidu-resigns-as-special-prosecutor/|access-date=2020-11-16|website=Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Why Martin Amidu resigned as Special Prosecutor [LETTER TO PRESIDENT]|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/why-martin-amidu-resigned-as-special-prosecutor.html|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb}}