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President Akufo-Addo has made the speculation, of the coveted and highly anticipated Special Prosecutor job go down like nine pins as he names the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice under the Mills/Mahama administration, Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu.
The man, who is fondly called Citizen Vigilante after securing judgement for the state in the infamous Woyome scandal that took the nation by storm, was full of excitement, as President Akufo- Addo gave him the mandate to do the job that he (Amidu) likes most, chasing suspected corrupt public officials.
Amidu had a cause to expose a number of deals in the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration. As a former running mate to the late President Atta Mills and from the NDC stock, and not from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Martin Amidu is therefore seen as likely to escape the tag ‘political witch-hunting’ when he assumes duty, as there appears to be general acceptance of his nomination and appointment by civil society groups.
Prior to the announcement, the names of prominent lawyers like Akoto-Ampaw, Philip Addison and Yoni Kulendi, who had all worked at the chambers of Akufo-Addo, Prempeh and Co. under President Akufo-Addo as likely candidates for the position.
But the president took the whole nation by surprise when he mentioned a name other than any of those mentioned above. It followed a letter sent to him by Attorney General Gloria Akuffo dated Thursday, January 11, 2018 in which she nominated Mr Amidu for appointment by President Akufo-Addo as the proposed Special Prosecutor.
That would, however, be subjected to the approval of parliament. At a brief press conference at the Flagstaff House yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said, ”I have accepted the Attorney General’s nomination, and will, in turn, submit for parliament’s approval, when it reconvenes on January 23, 2018, for its first meeting of this New Year, the name of Martin Alamisi Burnes Kaiser Amidu to be the first Special Prosecutor under the law.”
Speculations were rife that Mr Amidu would be supported by Cynthia Lamptey, a former Director of Public Prosecution at the Attorney General’s Office. President Akufo-Addo said he was fully convinced Mr Amidu, ”a prominent legal personality, who held the high office of Attorney General of the Republic in the government of the late President Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills, has the requisite integrity, competence, courage and independence of character to discharge effectively the responsibilities of this new office.”
President Akufo-Addo said he could also, personally, vouch for the public spiritedness of Mr Amidu.
Furthermore, the country eagerly awaits the approval of Mr Amidu in the coming weeks.