By William
Yaw Owusu
Saturday
January 13, 2018
The selection of former Attorney General (AG) and
Minister of Justice, Martin A.B.K. Amidu, by President Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo as the Special Prosecutor is causing uneasy calm in the opposition
National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Subject to parliamentary approval, Mr. Amidu - a
member of the NDC, who is credited for his anti-corruption exploits that has earned
him the accolade Citizen Vigilante - will become Ghana’s first Special
Prosecutor – a position created by Nana Akufo-Addo and his New Patriotic Party
(NPP) to prosecute suspected corrupt public officials (both past and present).
There have been mixed reactions following President
Akufo-Addo’s announcement Thursday evening, but elements in the opposition
party appear to be jittery.
Prime
Target
They are arguing that Mr Amidu, who is one of the
pioneers of the NDC, might target them unnecessarily, especially those who
served during the tenure of President John Mahama, and claimed he could let
those in the NPP government off the hook.
Even some elements in the ruling NPP are reportedly
not happy with the president’s appointment because they fear Mr. Amidu might ‘turn’
around and chase them.
First
Salvo
NDC National Organizer Kofi Adams set the tone immediately
President Akufo-Addo mentioned Mr. Amidu’s name when he (Adams) said the former
AG could not objectively execute the mandate of the Office of the Special
Prosecutor.
He claimed on TV3
that Mr. Amidu would execute what he termed ‘a witch-hunting agenda’ against
members of the NDC because according to him, Mr. Amidu’s posture since the
Akufo-Addo-led government began work showed that he (Amidu) is still ‘a bitter
man’ and ‘anti-NDC.’
According to him, Mr Amidu, had on a number of
occasions refused to consider himself as a member of the NDC, adding that the
experienced lawyer disrespected the party when he failed to appear before its (party’s)
disciplinary committee over some comments attributed to him.
“We have made it very clear that he is not
independent; he is a bitter person and he is there to witch-hunt NDC members,” Mr
Kofi Adams insisted.
Two NDC MPs - Dominic Ayine, a former deputy
Attorney General and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, MP for South
Dayi - said Amidu is not fit for the job because he is ‘tainted.’
NDC
Member
NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia,
preferred to go undertone when he said on Atinka
FM that “If he (Amidu) doesn’t change, then I believe he will do a good job
because an office like this needs a person who will not be manipulated by the
government in power.”
He, however, disagreed with Kofi Adams that Mr. Amidu
is no longer a member of the NDC, saying that although the former AG is facing
disciplinary charges from the party, he is still a card-bearing member.
JJ’s
Message
Interestingly, while the NDC gurus are ‘mourning’ over
the appointment, their own founder, Jerry John Rawlings, has sent a
congratulatory message to President Akufo-Addo on rising above ‘partisanship’
to appoint Mr. Amidu, whom he described as ‘fearless’ and ‘a highly principled
citizen.’
In a statement signed and issued by Kobina Andoh
Amoakwa, in-charge of the Communications Directorate of the former president's
office, Mr. Rawlings was quoted as
expressing his optimism that parliament would approve Mr. Amidu’s appointment because
he is the right person for the job.
“Mr. Amidu has proven to be a fearless
anti-corruption crusader whose pursuit of truth and justice has won him
national admiration,” JJ remarked, adding, “The president couldn’t have made a
better choice.”
He asked for prayers and support from Ghanaians for
Mr. Amidu adding, “I call on all Ghanaians to offer the appointee the required
support and information in pursuit of what will undoubtedly be a challenging role.”
Smart
Move
Brig. Gen. Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (Rtd), former
National Security Advisor to the late President J.E.A. Mills, said Mr. Amidu’s
selection by the president is a ‘smart’ move.
“It is a very smart move by the president to appoint
Martin Amidu, who is a known NDC man. If it was a man who had NPP sympathy, one
would have thought that he will have NPP leanings towards people who will be
incriminated. But if you appoint a man like Martin Amidu, who is a very strict
person as far as the law is concerned, it is a very smart move on the part the president.
He is one of the finest people I have worked with and I know he will pursue
justice, whatever the case is,” he underscored.
Prudent
Decision
Justice Francis Emile Short, former boss of the
Commission on Human Rights and Administration Justice (CHRAJ), noted on Citi FM that the former Attorney
General’s appointment was 'prudent,' pointing out that it demonstrated the president's
commitment to fighting corruption.
“Well, I am very pleased with the appointment, and
think we should all congratulate the president for this wise and prudent
appointment. In my view, it demonstrates the president’s personal commitment in
his fight against corruption to pick someone like Martin Amidu, who is a fervent
anti-corruption crusader,” he said, adding, “He (Amidu) is independent-minded
and I am sure he is someone who will not be influenced by political or party
consideration. He is someone who has been proven to be very objective; he is
very capable and competent as a lawyer and as a prosecutor.”
‘Celebrate
Amidu’
Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic
Governance (IDEG), Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, has called on the NDC to celebrate Mr.
Amidu rather than demonize him.
“It is good for the party to rather celebrate that
they have a person that they made, that they shaped. He stood against them on
principle and it’s good that their opponent, who is in power now, has seen that
quality and wants to put it to greater use of the country. I think that is
commendable,” he articulated.
Private legal practitioner Moses Fo-Amoaning said Mr
Amidu is going to be ‘ruthless’ in the fight against corruption and that Ghana
will be the ultimate beneficiary.
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