STRANEK In Paper War With Special Prosecutor Over Agyapa Dirty Deal

Governance think tank, Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) has asked for the removal of the Special Prosecutor, Martin Alamisi Amidu for his incompetence.

STRANEK is particular about the show of disinterest by the SP in the unfolding scandal of the Agyapa Minerals Royalties.

In what can be described as a paper war between the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and STRANEK, Nii Tettey Tetteh, the think tank’s Executive Director, in a letter, describes Mr. Amidu as “childish” and “petty” among other uncomplimentary words.

STRANEK’s letter also dangles question marks on Amidu’s astuteness as an investigator of the Agyapa deal, pointing out that vibes from the SP indicate that he has taken a compromised stance to absolve the so-called Agyapa Sakawa Mafia with a probe that the SP has started.

The whole anger from STRANEK had been sparked by Amidu’s when he replied the think tank’s petition to probe the Agyapa deal in intemperate language.

Among others, the SP had called STRANEK’s petition “opportunistic,” “populist” and supposedly replete with “mere speculations.”

This is after Mr. Amidu had indicated in the same reply letter that his office has already started an investigation into the Agyapa deal and has, as part of the probe, written to Parliament.

STRANEK points out that Amidu could have just informed it of his office’ commencement of investigations in simple officialese without the needless insults that the think tank says is totally unbecoming of the Special Prosecutor.

“We, at STRANEK-AFRICA, find it petty of a Special Prosecutor to describe a petition sent to you in good faith and in the interest of the people of Ghana as an opportunistic and populist enterprise. It is difficult to understand the depth of your anger at an organisation petitioning your office to investigate what seems to be a deal fraught with illegality, secrecy and conflict of interest issues. If nothing at all, our petition should give you a sense of direction as to the kind of questions that Ghanaians want answers to,” STRANEK fired back. 

 “It is our duty as citizens of Ghana to assist in fighting corruption and protecting the public purse.  STRANEK-Africa is not in any form of competition with you to “take credit for” any processes as childishly captured in your response, neither do we intend to start one. We will continue to go high when you go low. The fight against corruption cannot be a one-man affair. It requires a collective effort.”

The hot worded reply from STRANEK was signed by Nii Tetteh Tettey, Executive Director and Emmanuel Osei, Director of Policy and Political Affairs.

The think tank served notice that it will continue to play its watchdog role and that no amount of insults from anyone will stop it from serving the public interest.

Meanwhile, Law expert at large, Prof. Kwaku Azar, has chided the Special Prosecutor for starting the paper war with STRANEK, saying Alamisi’s actions are likely to discourage public participation in the fight against corruption.

In a write-up, Prof. Azar points out that Alamis’s barking ways will discourage others who wish to come forward with helpful information that can help with investigation into corruption from doing so.

A good prosecutor should always welcome leads, information or complaints from the public, even if it turns out that they are not helpful, useful or redundant.