By William
Yaw Owusu
Tuesday February
20, 2018
Former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings has noted
that the selection of Martin Alamisi Burns Kaiser Amidu as Special Prosecutor
is an indication that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is serious about
fighting corruption in the country.
Mr. Amidu, a former Attorney General and Minister
for Justice - who is a key member of the National Democratic Congress - (NDC), subject
to parliamentary approval, is expected to become Ghana’s first Special
Prosecutor - an office created in fulfillment of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
manifesto pledge.
He underwent about eight hours of vetting before the
Appointments Committee of Parliament last week and sources say he received
overwhelming endorsement by members of the committee.
So far, it is Alhassan Suyuhini, NDC MP for Tamale
North, who claimed on radio that he voted against Mr. Amidu’s approval; but the
massive support for the incoming prosecutor appeared to make his eventual approval
a mere formality.
Serious
President
Former President Rawlings, in a meeting with the
Ambassador of Japan, Tsutomu Himeno, said, “The appointment of Amidu as Special
Prosecutor from outside his own party shows the president is serious.
“It vindicates some of us,” he said, whilst making a
case for Japan’s continuous assistance to Ghana.”
He maintained, “No developed country should hold
back in assisting our country to improve the lives of our people.”
International
Matters
The former president also discussed issues of
globalization and the current world order with the Japanese Ambassador.
“The
inequalities created by capitalism and the impunity of political power may be
leading to the emasculation and helplessness of the mass of people on the one
hand and on the other, it will no doubt and definitely be triggering outrage,
anger and hatred which translate into acts of violence, suicidal tendencies,
terrorism and pockets of political instability,” Mr. Rawlings said.
He said Japan is holding on to its enviable position
as a leading developed country because Japanese culture prohibits impunity.
“Others need to learn a few lessons from countries
like Japan, China, South Korea and a few others that have held on to the
humility of power. The culture of respect for the people is what has helped to
prevent the arrogance of power,” he emphasized.
“Though our culture of respect is not supposed to be
any different, we have not been able to prevent impunity.”
The former president said, “It is about time we woke
up to the negatives of the savagery of capitalism and tyranny of the misuse of
wealth.”
Mr. Rawlings extended a message of good wishes from
his family to Emperor Akihito and his family as well as Professor Hishashi
Owada, former diplomat and currently a member of the International Court of
Justice.
Numerous
Projects
Responding, the Japanese Ambassador recounted the
numerous projects his government has been embarking on in Ghana and said the
people of Japan are appreciative of the relationship with Ghana.
He mentioned the role being played by the Noguchi
Memorial Institute and the untiring effort of the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) as some of the efforts of the government of Japan.
Congratulatory
Message
In the heat of Mr. Amidu’s nomination by the NPP government,
the former president, who is the founder of the NDC, 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.’
Mr Rawlings had said Mr. Amidu is the right person
for the job, explaining, “Mr. Amidu has proven to be a fearless anti-corruption
crusader whose pursuit of truth and justice has won him national admiration. The
President couldn’t have made a better choice.”
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