Guns Were Used To Settle Corruption In The Past; This Is The Time To Use Amidu

Veteran journalist Kwaku Baako has asked Ghanaians to support Special Prosecutor nominee Martin Amidu to stem the tide of corruption in the country.

He said the anti-corruption campaigner is the right person for the job despite some character issues that need to be fixed.

Mr Amidu has received overwhelming approval from Parliament’s Appointments Committee, pending a decision by the plenary session.

Veteran journalist Kwaku Baako
Tamale North Member of Parliament (MP), Alhassan Suhuyini was the only dissenting voice on the 26-member Committee.

“I think that he’s very competent for the office but I don’t think he is suitable,” he told Lexis Bill on Joy FM’s Personality Profile Thursday.

Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak said he could have voted against Mr. Amidu at the Committee level but he chose to ignore his previous sins.

“I wasn’t satisfied at with his answers to my questions but I cannot imagine that a Special Prosecutor will have everything that I want,” he told Samson Lardy on Joy FM Saturday news analysis show, Newsfile.

Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak
He said his experience as a lawmaker on the vetting committee has taught him not to measure someone by his temperament, a criterion he believes would have disqualified Amidu.

“It is not part of the criteria and I can’t doubt his capability,” he said of the anti-corruption campaigner.

Having known Mr Amidu for over 40 years, Mr Baako admitted the former Attorney-General has some character issues but said he will work on it.

“I believe the end effect will be helpful for him [and] the office could tame him also,” the outspoken veteran journalist said.

Baako expressed satisfaction with the responses Amidu gave to some questions during the vetting process.

The former A-G had alleged Electoral Commission boss Charlotte Ose’s elevation to the position by the then President John Mahama was not done based on her qualification.

Asked to justify his claim, Mr Amidu declined, saying the matter is before an eminent committee set up by Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo.

Although Mr Muntaka was not satisfied with his “evasive response”, Mr Baako said it was the best at the time.

“The answer he gave within the platform was key. Was he supposed to rehash some of the things he has said?” he asked.

He said Mr Amidu is not a perfect human being but because of the monstrous nature of corruption, he is fit for purpose.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | M: [email protected] | Instagram: @realbrakopowers