‘My elder brother, gov’t didn’t sponsor Anas’ –Mahama tells Amidu

President John Mahama has denied claims by former Attorney General Martin Amidu that government sponsored undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas to investigate corruption in the judiciary.

“I just want to go on record that government did not sponsor Anas. I want that to go on record” the president stressed to party supporters in Tamale on his Changing Lives tour Saturday.

Although government through the Communications Ministry has already stated this position last Monday it has not stopped Martin Amidu from insisting that Anas is an illegal undercover agent.

Mr. Amidu, has also accused Anas of conniving with the Mahama administration to shield some politicians implicated in the investigations.

But he has been heavily criticized for failing to provide adequate evidence to back his claim and resorting to newspaper reports as his evidence.

Martin’s conspiracy theory has been rejected by veteran journalist and Anas’ mentor Kweku Baako Jnr.

Deputy Minority leader Dominic Nitiwul has also lined up against Amidu’s view maintaining he doubts government has influence over Anas’ work.

The president revealed his reluctance in joining a debate that has grabbed media attention for six days unabated.

But bolstering government position once again, President Mahama wants his personal comments on the record stating that the anti-corruption campaigner Amidu got it wrong.

Although government has worked with Anas in investigating public institutions for corruption, the president was emphatic, no such collaboration happened this time.

Mahama shared his respect for the anti-corruption campaigner who has been consistently hammering his government for weak-willed attempts at fighting corruption.

He called the highly regarded Martin Amidu, his “elder brother” with whom he would “never ever enter into any altercation with”.

Meanwhile Anas Aremeyaw Anas has told the BBC’s Sammy Darko, he will “proudly” welcome any collaboration with government to expose corrupt practices in the country.