Letter To Martin A. B. K Amidu: Relentless Attacks On John Mahama Must Stop

Dear Sir,

The gratuitous screed you authored in response to ex-president John Dramani Mahama's innocent opinion on the office of special prosecutor [OSP] virtually convulsed me in intellectual throes. “I have read with dismay the deliberate efforts by certain Presidential candidates for the 2020 Elections to drag the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the person of the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, as he is referred to in their speeches and media publications, into their campaign rhetoric to demonstrate their determination to prevent and fight corruption as a reason why the electorate must consider them as the candidate of choice for the up-coming elections…As the Special Prosecutor who personifies the Office of the Special Prosecutor, I find such statements patronizing, and needless within the objects, mandate, and functions granted to the Office under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959),” (Source: MYJOYONLINE.COM, Thursday, October 29, 2020). I listened to president Mahama’s interview with the 3 MultiMedia journalists, and I do not think the ex- Ghanaian leader ever implied any attempt to interfere with your venerable office. By the way, the political architecture in Ghana can help any incoming president to remove the special prosecutor with relative ease. All that former president Mahama needs is the National Democratic Congress [NDC] majority in parliament to review and amend the act that set up the OSP. Ethically, there is nothing wrong with legal amendment provided it is not carried out in a manner that demonstrates ex post facto application of the law.

Disillusioned by political corruption, nepotism, incorrectness, and somewhat administrative ineptitude that have engulfed Ghanaian politics, the joy of many of us knew no bounds when the president of the Republic, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, appointed Mr. Martin Amidu as the special prosecutor. Prior to his appointment, many saw him as an archetypal Ghanaian man of integrity, remarks for the cultivation of patriotism, and a charm of impartiality. Dear citizen vigilante, it is excessively inappropriate to sacrifice John Mahamah’s unblemished reputation on unholy altars of your egocentric convenience. Typing needless diatribes to berate President Mahama will not suffice as an excuse for your lackluster performance as a special prosecutor. The OSP is not immune from public discourse. John Mahama is a stakeholder of Ghana's democracy and the rule of law. I admire him for his liberalism and humility because I am allergic to autocracy. We are ready to help him to build Ghana like Lee Kuan Yew developed Singapore. Dear Sir Amidu, I think you misunderstood the ex-president.

By Nana Yaw Osei, Minnesota, USA. [email protected]