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I can understand the reaction to the appointment of Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor. I can understand the criticism that he is coming to the position with bitter, vengeful feelings. Given his conflict with the former President Attah Mills and some of his staff, given his comments on some of his colleagues at the AG’s office and given the exchanges he had with NDC communicators and some executive members, I can understand the negative reaction by some people and the feeling that he would be witch hunting.
Amidu and I shared a double decker/bunker bed for one year when he came to Lower Sixth till he was made a prefect and moved out into a cubicle. I met him again practising law in Bawku and we met a couple of times in pito houses – in those days before I gave up alcohol. I met him when he was deputy PNDC Secretary for the Upper East Region and later when he acted when Nde was moved. We crossed swords in a meeting he chaired at the Regional Office and had an unpleasant exchange.
For a long time I could not say I loved him – not in a gay sort of way, if that is what you are thinking – but I respected and admired him. And still do. My subjective perspective about him is that he wants to have the last word each time and he places a very high premium on his qualities, his intelligence, knowledge and courage, all of which he really has. He is an ‘I’ person; do you know that I did this? And if someone should ever be able to say something negatively critical of him and he is unable to challenge it because it is true… something will die in him.
While it can make him unpleasant to people close to him, one reason why I admire him is how he has gone to lengths to protect his ability to say I. So while his peers on both sides of the political divide were grabbing left, right and centre he has diligently tried to keep a relatively clean sheet.
I can understand the fears of the NDC but I am not sure anybody with skeletons in their wardrobes in the NPP should be jubilating either. I think Martin is not anti-establishment, as said of him when he had the conflict with former President Attah Mills, but a maverick whose strong pride makes him unable to accept glaring wrong, or subordination. I have pondered over a question since the news of his appointment. Is the president aware of who he is but is committed to clean corruption even in his house? Because I do not see Martin Amidu laying off a case just because the president asked him to. I do not see him feeling reluctant to pursue a case because the personality involved is in government or close to the president. I think he will want to pursue such a case and be able to say ‘I did this even when…’ I think, and pray very hard for it to be true, that he will bring independence to the office.
I agree with the comments on the appointment by Emile Short, himself a good candidate in my esteem. I agree with Rawlings’ assessment of the appointment. I will be surprised if in the coming years Martin Amidu does not have conflict with some members of the government or party. Then, as happens in politics, it will be the NPP accusing him of putting on an NDC cap. My prayer is that he is able to establish the independence of the office and rid it of the witch hunter notion it has been tagged it and give it a good foundation. And keep his integrity. Personally, I wish him and the office well.
By Chals Wontewe
