“The expectations have always been high. It is a fairy tale appointment simply because whenever we have been on air to talk about these things, a lot of the time, the recommendations have always been\u00a0the most ideal situation we could find and most people, even before this appointment, have speculated that wouldn\u2019t it be nice if we had Martin Amidu\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
In Mr. Casely Hayford’s view, Mr. Amidu’s appointment also presented Ghana with the opportunity to set an example to the rest of Africa as far as fighting corruption was concerned.<\/p>\n
According to him, Ghana’s leading role on the continent, including becoming the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence, had declined significantly in recent years.<\/p>\n
“There is a lot on his shoulders. There is a lot resting on the Independent Public Prosecutor [IPP]. I think Ghana would like to showcase its democratic credentials to Africa and to the world and if the appointment of the IPP is going to herald the beginning of this whole anti-corruption crusade then we are going to be a shining example going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are however some skeptics who have questioned Mr. Amidu’s appointment, with some citing possible bias against the opposition National Democratic Congress, whom he has had a public falling out with.<\/p>\n
Some have also stopped short of calling him overrated, with a Private Legal Practitioner and Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer of the NDC, Edudzi Tamaklo saying Mr. Amidu had limited success<\/a><\/strong><\/span> when he served as Attorney General.<\/p>\n But Mr. Casely Hayford stated that he had absolutely no doubt “that we couldn\u2019t have had a better person.”<\/p>\n Amidu’s credentials<\/strong><\/p>\n Mr. Amidu earned the nickname \u2018Citizen Vigilante\u2019 for his no-nonsense attitude to corruption, particularly in the NDC administration, under which he served.<\/p>\n He was eventually relieved of his post on Thursday, January 19, 2012, by President John Evans Atta Mills for alleged misconduct.<\/p>\n Ahead of his sacking, Mr. Amidu had made allegations relating to alleged financial impropriety on the part of another cabinet minister.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Martin-Amidu-1024x683.jpg\")