General News of Sunday, 14 January 2018

Source: kasapafmonline.com

Akufo-Addo risking NPP’s future with Amidu’s appointment – Foh Amoaning

Moses Foh-Amoaning Moses Foh-Amoaning

Renowned Lawyer and Lecturer at the Ghana School of Law, Moses Foh-Amoaning has said President Akufo-Addo has taken a political risk that might in the future cost his own New Patriotic Party (NPP), following his appointment of Martin Amidu a staunch member of the opposition NDC party as the Special Prosecutor.

According to him, Martin Amidu in the future could likely become a NDC Presidential candidate if he’s able to deliver his mandate to the admiration of Ghanaians and wins their trust, adding that, that is why some NPP people might be opposing his (Amidu) selection.

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 some NDC members are unhappy with his appointment with many saying he’s vindictive and will persecute former government officials during the Mahama administration after falling out with the NDC party few years ago.

However commenting on the subject on ‘Boiling Point’ on Oman FM, Lawyer Foh-Amoaning said the true NDC members and supporters will rather be happy with Mr Amidu’s appointment as he represents the core NDC party tradition and values of probity and accountability.



“Martin Amidu who stands for probity and accountability in the NDC, if he comes and does a good job by prosecuting those who have stolen state monies and wins the trust and admiration of Ghanaians, being a political animal and with his history as a former vice Presidential candidate, he could be a likely NDC Presidential candidate. In fact that is why some NPP people will oppose his choice. If you’re NDC member and a deep thinker, you’ll not be worried by the choice. It is only NDC officials who engaged in corruption while in office who will be bothered by Amidu’s appointment.



“Any deep political thinker will say Akufo-Addo is risking the political future of his own political party. But even with that, if Amidu succeeds as a Special Prosecutor, the question will also be asked, who appointed him? the obvious answer is President Akufo-Addo who belongs to the NPP tradition. So if you think about this, ultimately the nation Ghana wins.”