Mr. Amidu threw the challenge while answering a question by Minority Chief Whip, Mubarak Muntaka, on specific functions he played as Chairman of the Public Agreement Board between 1983 and 1993, during his vetting in Parliament today [Tuesday].

[contextly_sidebar id=”7yAqnN8c1pQ7g6N1ChujGrsl5SsTfFVo”]Mr. Amidu recalled that, he shot down contracts which were largely not in the interest of the country while serving as the Board’s Chairman.

He believes his firm stance against corruption at the time makes him competent for the Special Prosecutor position.

The lawyer was however quick to add that, the Appointments Committee could disqualify him if they wanted “somebody who will look the other way.”

“I was so meticulous with my members that unless the contract was in the national interest, I rejected it and I had a hell of problems with Senior Ministers, PNDC members … I did my job and nobody has been accused of entering into a contract which was not in the national interest.”

“That is the job I did and that is why if you want anybody who will be meticulous in investigation and prosecution, the President has made the best choice for you.”

Mr. Amidu, a man who has earned the nickname ‘Citizen Vigilante’ for his no-nonsense stance and campaign against corruption particularly in the NDC administration, was named by President Akufo-Addo on January 11, 2018, after an emergency cabinet meeting at the Flagstaff House.

The appointment of Mr. Amidu, a known member of the opposition NDC who has been very critical of the then John Mahama administration for various corruption scandals, came as a shock to many.

Mr. Amidu was widely commended and celebrated for his fight against corruption, when he single-handedly pursued known NDC businessman Alfred Woyome to the Supreme Court, and secured a ruling for the retrieval of the Ghc51million judgement debt paid to him by the state under the NDC administration.

Some have suggested the NDC fears Mr. Amidu may pursue a political agenda to jail members of the NDC but the party has stated on several occasions stated that it does not harbors such fears.

Most members of the NDC who spoke about Mr. Amidu’s appointment, however, acknowledged his competence for the office.

Nothing to lose at vetting

Prior to his vetting, Martin Amidu had stressed that he had nothing to win or lose whatever the results of the vetting would be.

H also said he was confident he would win a national poll if the president had put him out to be voted on by Ghanaians whether to be accepted or rejected.

“One thing I know from the outpouring of support for the President’s nomination of my humble self as the Special Public Prosecutor is that if the President’s wishes were put to a national referendum, all the 275 constituencies of the country will return an overwhelmingly positive endorsement for his choice.”

Ayine sues Amidu 

Mr. Amidu’s appointment has not been without controversy as barely 24 hours to the vetting, a former Deputy Attorney General, Dominic Ayine, filed a lawsuit challenging his nomination.

The former deputy Attorney General, Dominic Ayine, among other things posited that, Mr. Amidu, being 66 years of age, is too old to hold that office.

The lawsuit, which was filed at the Supreme Court yesterday [Monday], did not place an injunction on the vetting process, but is praying the court to annul the entire process if it finds merit in the case against Mr. Amidu.

According to Dominic Ayine, it will be unconstitutional for Martin Amidu to be approved for the position.

In his argument, he said the Office of the Special Prosecutor falls under the broad category of public officers who by the constitution must retire by age 60 with a possible extension to 65 years.

The Special Prosecutor is however under Article 145 of the constitution, given the conditions of service of Court of Appeal judges who retires at age 70, but Dominic Ayine holds a different view.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post ‘You can disqualify me if’ … – Amidu to Appointments C’ttee appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A statement from Charter House, organizers of the event, said “…organizers of the annual Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Festival would like to announce to musicians, music industry practitioners and members of the general public that nominations for the 18th edition of the festival officially opens on Monday 9th January 2017.”

The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards recognizes and celebrates hardworking and dedicated players in Ghana’s music industry.

The statement further said the nomination period will end on Tuesday, January 31, 2017.

EL wins Artiste of the Year 2016

Rapper EL picked up five awards at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards show held in 2016, including the coveted Artiste of the Year award.

He beat his all male competitors which had Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Bisa Kdei, SP Kofi Sarpong and VVIP also in contention to win the marquee award.

EL was rewarded for his exceptional craft and work on hit songs like ‘Mi Naa Bo Po’ and ‘Koko’.

Where to pick nomination forms:

Offices of Charterhouse Productions Limited

Partner radio and TV stations

or download from www.ghanamusicawards.com. (Forms can also be filled and submitted online at entry.ghanamusicawards.com)

Completed hand filled forms with copies of CDs, videos and promotional pictures should all be submitted to the offices of Charterhouse Productions Limited located at B824/10 Feo Eyeo Street, Industrial Area Accra, near TV Africa.

Timeline for works that qualify for submission:

Works released between January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016.

Terms and conditions apply. Please log on to www.ghanamusicawards.com for full terms and conditions.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nomination for VGMAs 2017 to open next week appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Minority in Parliament had earlier called for the suspension of his approval over comments he made against Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood on Accra-based Montie FM in July 2016.

Mr. Bless Oti, also the Nkwanta North Member of Parliament, accused the Chief Justice of “conniving” with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in an attempt to reverse the election results in 2008 and in 2012 among other allegations.

But Parliament on Wednesday finally approved his nomination after the Speaker called for a vote of his nomination.

Speaking to Citi News hours after the approval, Oti Bless said his nomination was divine.

“It is a great day and it is a day of praise to God for the great things he has done. God is a true God that has to be praised every day and everytime. It is the work of the Lord. God has time for everyone.”

He further indicated that he will give off his best.

“What I can say is to give thanks to God and within this short period I will do my best and whatever is in me will be brought out for the public to see what can be done.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post God is behind approval of my nomination – Oti bless appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A total of 17 presidential aspirants had submitted their forms on the deadline for submission of forms on Friday, September 30.

Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei, after the exercise, told Citi News the Commission will soon start vetting of the forms to ensure they are in compliance with the constitution and other subsidiary legislation.

“For the candidates who have met the requirements, their nominations will be accepted, which will mean they will be on the ballot paper for the December presidential elections,” she said.

But speaking to Citi News’ Sixtus Dong Ullo, a fellow of the Centre, Mr. Solomon Osei Fosu the EC is acting outside the election regulatory framework by vetting aspirants.

He believes the EC has no “moral right” to undertake such an exercise.

“Looking at the regulation, that is CI 94, there is nowhere that it says that there should be a vetting within seven days so based on that, we think that EC’s seven day vetting is not backed by law”

“The EC has no moral right to say that they are now going to vet because if they vet and there is a mistake are they going to declare that candidate invalid or that nomination invalid? Are they going to give that candidate an opportunity to amend or rectify mistakes,” he argued.

Charlotte Osei said the Commission will take seven (7) days to vet all the forms before coming out with the final list of qualified candidates.

“Next week, the Commission will come out with the official list of those who have met the legal requirements to be candidates for this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections,” she added.

At the end of the submission on Friday, 17 aspirants, including two independent candidates, submitted their forms, although the EC was expecting 23 people.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post EC’s vetting of nominations not backed by law – Group appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.