<<Print>>Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, is livid over what he calls attempts by some leading Members of Parliament on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress to cover up the double salary scandal.
According to him, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), should be allowed to investigate the matter and not sweep it under the carpet.
“What is worrying for me is the knowledge that some people are even talking to the president to compromise so that crime will be overlooked because they are Members of Parliament…so Ghanaians will be awash,” he said in an interview he granted Citi News’ Umaru Amadu Sanda on Thursday.
Some NDC MPs who served as ministers or deputy ministers are currently in hot waters after they were cited by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for allegedly taking double salaries.
25 of the MPs were initially asked to report to the police, but 18 of them were later asked to disregard that invitation.
But so far, about eight of them have been interrogated by the CID and are being investigated for stealing; an allegation the Minority in Parliament has rejected.
Meanwhile, there are reports in the media that the Majority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to intervene to safeguard the integrity of Parliament; a claim one of the lawyers for the indicted MPs, Victor Adawudu has denied.
But the Special Prosecutor in the interview said the CID should be allowed to probe the matter to its logical conclusion.
The Special Prosecutor insisted that he will not have the conscience to prosecute ordinary Ghanaians if the double salary matter is not dealt with appropriately.
“… Why should a Special Prosecutor be prosecuting ordinary Ghanaians and your honourables will be involved in these things; then they will be talking to the president to wash it up. Then I have no need sitting here. I won’t even have the conscience to continue.”
“Will I have the conscience to prosecute any other body for corruption if the CID finds something prosecutable and are not allowed to prosecute because Members of Parliament are involved? That is not fair,” he added.Martin Amidu, further suggested that the indicted MPs being investigated for alleged stealing could be charged for abuse of office for personal gain.
“The ordinary man going to jail is a human being like a Ghanaian. I don’t like this whole idea about political elite. Honourables you are supposed to be, and then you are just fleecing the country. Indeed, that is an offence of abuse of office for private gain,” headed.
Parliament committee to probe alleged ‘double salary’ saga
Already, Parliament has announced the formation of a two-member bi-partisan committee to investigate the double salaries scandal.
Speaking to Citi News, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, said the committee is expected to provide some clarity on the issue in order for the matter to be put to rest.
“The two-man committee involves Dr.Anthony Akoto Osei and Benjamin Kpodo. Initially, it was Ato Forson who was to join Dr. Akoto Osei to do this exercise. Unfortunately, before the committee could start, Ato Forson took a position, lampooning the police. And we felt that by that action he had compromised himself and he was replaced.”
“I believe that in the next couple of days, they would, touching base with our financial directorate and subsequently with the Controller and Accountant General, be able to assist the police in unraveling the truth and then we will take it from there,” he added.