Martin Amidu is a terrible choice – Chris Ackumey

A member of the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) Legal Team, Chris Ackumey has said President Akufo-Addo made a terrible decision by settling on renowned anti-corruption campaigner, Martin Amidu as Ghana’s first Special Prosecutor.

His position is in sharp contrast with the view expressed by several civil society organizations who are excited by the selection of the former Attorney General and have commended the President for making a wise decision.

President Akufo-Addo on Thursday evening named the former Attorney General as the Special Prosecutor subject to Parliamentary approval.

This comes after President Akufo-Addo assented to five Acts including that of the Special Prosecutor on January 2, 2017, which were passed by Parliament last year.

Parliament passed the Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill in November last year, which allows for the establishment of an independent anti-corruption institution to deal with public officials who have been deemed or found liable to corrupt dealings.

The law now gives power to the new independent prosecutor who’s tasked with the responsibility of prosecuting past and present public officers deemed to have been corrupt.

But veteran lawyer Chris Ackumey insists any other competent lawyer could have best fit the position than Martin Amidu who has an unforgiving spirit and will go any length to settle scores.

“The President has good intention but then Martin Amidu is a terrible choice. This is somebody who many including myself consider to be very vindictive, somebody who’s peeved with the NDC.”

But the former Deputy Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayini sharply disagrees with Mr Ackumey’s assertion, saying the appointment should not cause panic.

“I don’t think the appointment should send any shivers down the spine of any person. Whether the person is NDC or NPP, it shouldn’t matter. If a Ghanaian sis guilty of corruption, he’s guilty of corruption.”