Amidu Right To Out Ayariga’s ‘Obstruction Of Justice’ – GII

The Executive Director of Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Linda Ofori-Kwafo has commended the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu for revealing attempts by some chiefs and pastors to convince him to drop investigations into Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga.

The Special Prosecutor is investigating Mahama Ayariga on suspicion of corruption and abusing his office.

He is said to have imported three Toyota Land Cruiser V8s into the country, according to a statement by Martin Amidu, sighted by citinewsroom.com.

“When the suspect, Honourable Mahama Ayariga received his copy of my letter to the Speaker, he immediately started to get people who he perceived could put pressure on me (such as personal friends, former colleagues, chiefs, men of God, etc.) to abate the investigation being conducted in the performance of my functions under Acts 959 and Act 804,” Martin Amidu revealed.

Mrs. Ofori-Kwafo observed many Ghanaians might not be aware that simple acts of begging on behalf of suspects during a probe count as obstruction of justice.

She noted that this was probably because of entrenched cultural values.

“In the Ghanaian culture, people plead on behalf of others. The people who are pleading might not know that they might be acting to interfere in the administration of justice,” she told Citi News.

Mr. Amidu public rebuke also served to educate the public on such matters, Mrs. Ofori-Kwafo added.

Martin Amidu
“For that matter, the Special Prosecutor has actually educated the Ghanaian public that this is not allowed so far as the law of the country is concerned.”

“When justice is being done, we don't expect people to come and plead on behalf of others. Allow the law to take its full course and of the perpetrators or anybody who is being accused is not found culpable, I'm sure they will be relieved appropriately.”

Martin Amidu reported Mahama Ayariga to the Economic and Organized Crime Organization (EOCO) for attempting to obstruct his probe.

MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga
Mr. Ayariga is said to have sent personal friends, former colleagues, chiefs, pastors among others, to plead with Mr. Amidu on his behalf.

This is despite warnings from Martin Amidu.
“I asked the EOCO on a number of occasions to warn the suspect to desist from his conduct of obstructing the investigation by soliciting others to put pressure on me to abate same to no avail….I have accordingly, on 3^rd August 2018, requested the EOCO to investigate my complaint against the suspect for obstructing me, the Special Prosecutor, in the performance of the functions of my office as the Special Prosecutor,” Martin Amidu said.