Presidential Staffers nervous over Amidu’s appointment – Dep. Chief of Staff

Deputy Chief of Staff, Samuel Abu Jinapor has revealed that not everyone within the Presidency is excited about President Akufo Addo’s appointment of the free spirited anti-corruption campaigner, Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor.

According to him, the choice of Mr Amidu who’s a ‘no nonsense’ and principled person has really unsettled some staff at the Presidency.

“Let me tell you, some of us…within our own ranks, some people are somehow nervous about Mr Martin Amidu, the man is…the President says so be it. He wants a man who will check all of us and expose corruption where he finds it. He doesn’t want someone who excuse my language is a stooge, or someone who anybody can call and say take right or left and the person will take right or left. He wants somebody who will fight corruption and fight it relentlessly,” Abu Jinapor told host Paul Adom Otchere on ‘Good Evening Ghana show’ on Metro TV.

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

This was after he 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.

But the choice of Mr Amidu popularly known as the Citizen Vigilante has caused uproar among a section of the public especially the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) with some including Lawyer Chris Ackumey describing him as a vindictive person who will persecute for government officials under the erstwhile Mahama administration.

However, the likes of NDC Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, has said Martin Amidu is fiercely independent and has demonstrated over the years that he’ll pursue persons engaged in corruption no matter whose ox is gored.

“I know Martin Amidu to be very diligent, hardworking and a dexterous man who will apply the law to the fact and make a decision knowing that any decision might be subject to challenge in court. He brings into office, a huge reputation of anti-corruption crusader. He has a reputation to protect. If you know Martin Amidu, he’ll go for people who have engaged in corruption no matter whose ox is gored. I have reason to believe that if Martin Amidu is convinced that President Akufo Addo is doing something untoward and is corruption related, he’ll go for him".