The former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, says arrogance and impunity of power have taken over the Akufo-Addo administration since it assumed office in January, 2017.
In his latest epistle, the former Attorney-General said, government creates an impression of being democratic; however, it is evident that President Akufo-Addo is running a self-styled “democratic-autocratic governance.”
According to him, government seeks “cosmetic post facto consultation with relevant stakeholders only when there is a serious objection to the policy by the electorate and other stakeholders.”
“The constitutional principles of probity, accountability, and transparency in governance are shamelessly contravened by a government that came to power only after representing to We the People that it would be the most accountable and transparent government ever to run the affairs of this country,” he noted.
Mr Amidu’s dispatch comes after Parliament on Friday, November 26, rejected the 2022 budget, which was presented by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, last week Wednesday.
The unprecedented incident came after the Majority in Parliament staged a walkout during the deliberation on the said budget.
The Majority has subsequently refused to admit that the budget has been thrown out.
According to the NPP Caucus in the legislature, it was unconstitutional for Speaker Alban Bagbin to proceed with the hearing when they walked out of the chamber.
However, in a rebuttal, the former Special Prosecutor noted that it will not be the first time deliberation on a policy before the House continued despite the absence of one caucus.
Citing the botched Agyapa Royalties Agreement, Mr Amidu said it was “hurriedly” approved even though the Minority in Parliament had staged a walkout, thus, were not present.
“The Agyapa Transaction Agreements, for instance, is an exemplified display of the arrogance and impunity of power by this government when it stuck to its position to complete the listing of Agyapa Royalties Limited on the London Stock Exchange by December 30, 2020, even after the most affected stakeholders, including the Chiefs as custodian of the nation’s lands, raised reasoned objections to the unaccountable and opaque manner the government obtained the parliamentary approval without prior consultations with the Chiefs and people.
“It was only over these damning objections that the government pretended to start consultations with stakeholders while insisting that the listing of the Agyapa Royalties Limited on the London Stock Exchange on or before the due date in December 2020 was not for negotiation. It had to take the Agyapa Royalties Anti-Corruption Risk Assessment Report and the audaciousness of a Special Prosecutor not to shelve the report for the government to swallow humble pie and save face by pretending to refer the Agreements for reconsideration by the Parliament that approved it,” he stressed.
Therefore, he believed that the level of stubbornness and failure to liaise with the opposition caused the rejection of the 2022 budget, making it the first economic policy to be rejected in the Fourth Republic.
Latest Stories
-
Gender Advocate Emelia Naa Ayeley Aryee Wins prestigious Merck Foundation Awards
59 mins -
South Africa bursary scandal suspects granted bail
1 hour -
Ecobank successfully repays $500m Eurobond due April 18
1 hour -
Re: Doe Adjaho, Torgbui Samlafo IV, call for Unity among Paramountcies in Anlo
1 hour -
Extortion and kidnap – a deadly journey across Mexico into the US
2 hours -
Rihanna says fashion has helped her personal ‘rediscovery’ after having children
2 hours -
Development Bank Ghana targets GH¢1bn funding for commercial banks in 2024
2 hours -
Shatta Movement apologises to Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled after backlash
3 hours -
Sammy Gyamfi writes: Tema-Mpakadan Railway Project; A railway line to nowhere
3 hours -
Bright Simons: Is the World Bank saving or harming Ghana?
3 hours -
CAF Cup: RS Berkane banned from entering Algeria because of a map of Morocco with its Sahara
4 hours -
The media isn’t doing what is expected of journalism – Sulemana Braimah
4 hours -
Truck driver who caused train accident jailed 6 months
4 hours -
Music review: Okyeame Kwame proves rap dexterity on ‘No Competition’
4 hours -
How a 23-year-old fooled the internet with an AI Kendrick Lamar diss track
5 hours