Majority of Ghanaians hailed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s announcement of Mr A.B.K. Amidu for the position of Special Prosecutor. We believe the president’s decision was informed by Mr Amidu’s demonstrably penchant to firmly see corruption rooted out of this country.
Of course there have been a few people who have expressed some reservations about Mr. Amidu’s appointment, which is waiting parliamentary approval. Certainly, that was to be expected in a growing democracy like ours, which obviously makes democracy one healthy system of government.
With his appointment waiting for the approval of our legislators, the question that readily comes in mind is: will he be able to deliver on his mandate? Well, Today is of the firm belief that Mr Amidu is more than capable of delivering!
In deed this is a man who did not feel intimidated by his own party when he was the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice from January 2011 till January 2012 under the late President John Evans Fiifi Atta-Mills. He was vociferous and bold on corrupt elements and corrupt practices within the government at the time. No wonder he was pressured to tender in his resignation as the Attorney General at the time.
He did not stop there, but relentlessly pursued the fight against corruption in this country. And through his singular efforts we are retrieving some GHC51 plus million-judgment debt from businessman, Mr Alfred Agbesi Woyome. Isn’t that a landmark achievement?
If Mr Amidu would stop at nothing to expose and pursue corrupt elements within his party in the law courts, definitely he will shield no corrupt person even if he/she is found within the party that offered him this appointment.
The fact is that corruption of all forms does not have a political colour. It is a practice that drains this country of the much-needed money to build good schools, construct asphalted roads, state-of-the-art hospitals, provide potable water among other infrastructural benefits for Ghanaians.
In the firm estimation of Today Mr Amidu is competent and bold enough to handle the Office of the Special Prosecutor. We would therefore, recommend to our lawmakers not to hesitate in approving his nomination for him to help fight which continues to be a bane of this country.
However, it will be wrong on our part to think that Mr Amidu when approved, his office can rid this country of corruption. Yes, we agree that given what he has demonstrated in fighting corruption in this country, his involvement at the governmental level to this cause would be critical.
But surely it is not enough for us to think that with the Special Prosecutor’s office corruption will become a thing of the past. We will be making a mockery of ourselves when we tend to think that way.
It is in the light of the above that Today thinks we must all support the Special Prosecutor’s office to help us fight against this social canker that we all agree is killing our dear nation. And as he awaits parliamentary vetting, we want to use this opportunity to remind him of the herculean task of his office placed on his shoulders and urge him to be ruthless with any person found to have stolen state money.
We equally want to reiterate our call to the government to resource our anti-corruption institutions to join in the fight against corruption.
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