I can’t get my GH¢180 million budget – Martin Amidu cries out

Ghana’s Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has complained about his inability to access GH¢180 million that has been budgeted for use by his office in the 2019 Budget Statement, arguing that it has hampered his fight against corruption.

“You say you have given GH¢180 million. I cannot access the GH¢180 million because as we speak today, my office has not been classified for procurement purposes. So I cannot procure cars myself, I cannot procure equipment myself. I can procure nothing,” he lamented on the Time With David show to veteran journalist David Ampofo monitored by MyNewsGh.com

Martin Amidu is of the view that anti-corruption bodies such as his, the OSP, have been denied much needed resources to enable them fight against corruption meaningfully.

Martin Amidu has been excoriated by many for not doing enough in the corruption fight since he was appointed barely a year ago. But he has defended his seeming inaction in the corruption fight on the lack of resources.

“Give me the chance to perform and then call me whatever names you want if I don’t deliver,” he challenged.

Martin Amidu has been a longstanding anti-corruption crusader, earning the name “Citizen Vigilante” because of his remarkable exploits in the fight against corruption. But upon his appointment as Ghana’s first Special Prosecutor, he has woefully failed to meet expectations.

But he has consistently written and spoken about how his office has been deprived resources – both human and material- to enable him effectively and efficiently fight corruption.