A popular quote attributed to famous British poet and writer Anne Stevenson, that “there is no friend like someone who has known you since you were five”, may have come into play to clear all doubts that the nomination of Martin Alamisi Amidu as Ghana’s Independent Special Prosecutor is well deserved.

This is because a childhood friend to Mr. Amidu, who is now the Upper East Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mohammed Murtala Ibrahim, says the ‘hot fury’ of the former Attorney General against all forms of corruption dates back to his early years at Bawku, a big commercial town in the Upper East region.

Mr. Amidu, who came to be known as “Citizen Vigilante” for his ceaseless anti-corruption ‘airstrikes’ even against members of his own National Democratic Congress (NDC), was named by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Thursday for the anti-graft office after an emergency cabinet meeting at the Flagstaff House.

“Martin Amidu hails from the Upper East region and I can vividly recount how we grew up in the same neighbourhood of Daduri at Bawku. Our family houses were not far apart. I knew Mr. Amidu for his stance on truth since his childhood days.

“I wasn't surprised when his childhood attributes blossomed and he has attained the accolade 'Citizen Vigilante'. We once again thank the President for reposing such confidence in one of the beloved sons of the Upper East region. Ghana is surely on the path of prosperity and creation of equal opportunities for all,” remarked the Regional Chairman in a press release issued on behalf of the party’s secretariat in the region.

Amidu’s Nomination has taken Ghana by Storm — Chairman

The Regional Chairman also greeted Mr. Amidu’s nomination with unreserved joy, saying the President’s move had left the country in complete astonishment.

The development sparked mixed reactions and has dominated headlines nationwide ever since the announcement was made at the Flagstaff House with countless Ghanaians showering praise on the President for his choice whilst some public figures have welcomed the nomination with a caution to the nominee not to use the office (if Parliament approves his nomination) to settle any “personal vendetta”.

“The appointment of Martin Amidu has taken Ghanaians by storm and everybody is praising the President for such a wise decision. This bold step justifies the President indubitable detestation for corruption and his unbendable commitment to fighting it.

“CHRAJ, Imani- Ghana, Centre for Democratic Development, Ghana Integrity Initiative and other credible civil society organisations are heralding the decision of the President of which the People of the Upper East region is not an exception,” Mr. Ibrahim said.

Meanwhile, natives of the Builsa community in the Upper East region (where Mr. Amidu hails from) have expressed not only joy for the nomination of their own as the country’s first Independent Special Prosecutor but were also optimistic that he would not let the country down.

“I have interacted with some people in the Builsa area and many are so happy about the nomination. They said he (Martin Amidu) had made them very proud,” Cornelius Adumpo, a Radio Builsa reporter, told Starr News.