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General News of Saturday, 13 January 2018

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Special Prosecutor: 'Insubordinate' Martin Amidu rightly suited for the job – Asiedu Nketia

Johnson Asiedu Nketia, NDC General Secretary play videoJohnson Asiedu Nketia, NDC General Secretary

It is often said that a negative attitude is often a surety for the downfall of a person who wants to distinguish him/herself in their career.

But it seems that may not be the case of the nominee for the first Special Prosecutor in office, Martin Alamisi Amidu. According to a former colleague and General Secretary of the opposition NDC, his posture will rather arm him to do an excellent job as the Special Prosecutor if confirmed by Parliament.

Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia who has come to admire the former Attorney General’s disposition noted he believes Mr. Amidu will do a great job.

“If you come to look at the pedigree of Mr. Martin Amidu, I have no doubt at all about his competence and his courage to perform. I came to work with honourable Martin Amidu for the first time when we came to the Consultative Assembly in 1991 several years ago and that is where I knew at close range… He’s been somebody who does not compromise on his positions. If he believes in a position, he believes in it, no matter what happens he’ll pursue what he believes in whether he’s right or wrong he’ll still pursue in what he believes in”, Mr. Asiedu Nketia stated.

Citing an incidence within the party which led to Mr. Amidu leaving office as a core reason of incompetency by some individuals, the highly respected member of the NDC indicated that the trait would rather work in favour of the Special Prosecutor nominee.

“... he was specifically accused of not taking instruction from the President and politically, a minister when he refuses to take instructions from the President, he must leave because he exists at the pleasure of the President. Now in the case of Attorney General we all want somebody who will not take instructions from the appointing authority. So if we have somebody with that trait and will pursue his convictions instead of taking instructions which he considers to be wrongful then he’s better placed to be the Special Prosecutor.” He further noted.

President Akufo-Addo on Thursday, January 11, 2018 announced the nomination of Mr Amidu as the first Independent Special Prosecutor in the annals of Ghana.



The office of the Special Prosecutor is expected to lead the fight against corruption and hold public officials both former and present accountable for graft of the Public purse.

There’s however been a public uproar following the announcement as the nominee is a known ‘citizen vigilante’. While majority of the public are excited about the choice, some individuals have condemned it noting that the candidate is going to ‘witch-hunt’ former appointees under the Mahama administration.