Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has raised alarm over what he describes as a lack of transparency and accountability in the Attorney-General’s decision to withdraw the criminal prosecution of former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and others in the Unibank case.
While Attorney-General Dominic Ayine recently announced a nolle prosequi to discontinue the criminal proceedings, citing a “pragmatic and holistic” approach to resolving the matter, Amidu insists the move fails both legal and ethical tests.
He argues that the decision sets a troubling precedent, especially when the state had viable legal channels to pursue recovery of GH₵1.2 billion allegedly misappropriated — even if the criminal trial ended in acquittal.
“Criminal prosecution and civil recovery are not mutually exclusive,” Amidu pointed out, adding that abandoning the former does not eliminate the need for rigorous financial restitution.
More critically, Amidu has challenged the credibility of the so-called settlement agreement that supposedly underpins the A-G’s decision. He accuses the Attorney-General’s office of masking a private deal as a legal resolution, without offering any court-sanctioned documentation or oversight mechanisms.
Calling the explanation from Ayine “bogus and fraudulent,” Amidu demanded full public disclosure of the settlement terms. “Let Ghanaians assess the deal for themselves,” he said, urging scrutiny over what he suggests is a compromise of public interest.
Amidu’s criticism taps into growing concerns over how high-profile financial scandals are resolved, with many calling for transparency in government-led legal settlements involving vast sums of public funds.
