Former President Jerry John Rawlings has expressed worry about the seeming lackadaisical attitude of the Special Prosecutor – Martin Amidu – in prosecuting corrupt government officials and other individuals who have misappropriated state funds.

“I wonder what is holding him up. We do not want to see the perpetuation of crime. We don’t want to see crimes being committed with impunity. The power of virtue must override the power of vice,” the former president, who is an admirer of Mr. Amidu for his integrity and strong anti-corruption stance, said yesterday.

He made the comment when a delegation from the Assemblies of God, Ghana, paid a courtesy call on him to officially announce the passing away of the church’s former General Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Simon Bamalong Asore.

Mr. Rawlings challenged Mr. Amidu, a former Attorney General, to act swiftly on perceived corrupt public officials – both past and present – to stem the tide of corruption in the country.

He tasked the leadership of the church to find out from Mr. Amidu what might be preventing him from delivering since Ghanaians have high expectations of him in the fight against corruption.

He made reference to President Akufo-Addo’s challenge to the Special Prosecutor to deliver on his mandate.

Mr. Rawlings said the delay in identifying and prosecuting corrupt deeds by public officials would lead to impunity and further perpetuation of crime and corruption.

Jerry John Rawlings in a pose with the delegation. Next to the former President is the widow Tribute

Mr. Rawlings later seized the opportunity to pay glowing tribute to Rev. Asore, who was a member of the Council of State from 1996 to 2000.

He described the late man of God as a quiet and self-respecting man of serious integrity and discipline.

On why he appointed Dr. Asore to the Council of State, he said, “We were searching for somebody with honour. Some of the tools needed to take out the rustiness were themselves rusty then, but he was a refreshing man of integrity whose spirituality was very high.”

The leader of the delegation, Rev. Dr. Harry Insaidoo, on his part, expressed gratitude to Mr. Rawlings for the role he played in bringing Rev. Asore to the public limelight.

He also thanked the current Akufo-Addo administration for arranging a state funeral for the late ex-General Superintendent.

Speaking about the values and principles that defined the late Rev. Asore, he said the man of God never pursued materialism and worked hard to expand the church from 250 missions to almost 1,900 missions during his tenure as head of the church.