Rawlings fought corruption to the barest minimum - Martin Amidu

The Special Prosecutor nominee, Martin Amidu says former President Jerry John Rawlings was able to fight corruption 'to the barest minimum'.

Mr. Amidu appeared before Parliament’s Appointment Committee on Tuesday to be vetted following his nomination.

Responding to why he made the former President one of his references, he said former President Rawlings knows him better than anybody because he worked with him.

According to him, “he was the one who brought me into politics by appointing me from 1982 as an investigator, through 1983 as a PNDC Secretary. I served under him until January 2001. If there is anybody who will know me better, it must be him. And whatever anybody says about him, he reduced corruption and graft to the barest minimum, he didn’t abolish it, and if I am an anti-corruption crusader who is defending the constitution, who better than him?”

Background

Mr Amidu was recommended for nomination by Attorney General Gloria Akuffo and President Akufo-Addo accepted his nomination and named him as the First ever Special Prosecutor.

Mr Amidu will carry out the extraordinary responsibility of independently fighting corruption.

He will have the full authority to initiate investigations into all suspected corruption-related offences of all persons in public service if approved by parliament.