Amidu will put ‘fear of God’ in corrupt public officials – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Akufo- Addo is convinced the appointment of Martin A. B. K. Amindu who is popularly called citizen vigilante will definitely put the fear of God in all public officials nurturing the dreams of becoming corrupt.

Nana Akufo-Addo who said this during his second encounter with the media a year after being sworn into office said Mr Amidu will prosecute corrupt current office holders as he would to past corrupt officers.

“At all times, the rule of law must be upheld,” the president said with a posturing that suggested he will not accept any act of corruption in his government.

To show his commitment to fighting corruption, the president said every single allegation of corruption in his one-year-old administration has been investigated by statutory institutions, including two separate bipartisan Parliamentary probes, as against a zero parliamentary probe under the erstwhile John Mahama administration.

In his trademark African outfit, white, with a colourful tapestry sitting right in front of the shirt, the president appeared before a section of journalists and media practitioners at the Flagstaff house, beaming with confidence and accounting for his one-year stewardship.

He was confident that his one-year government had been largely successful albeit with what he described as the “disgraceful behavior” of some of his party followers who in several acts of violence brought the government into disrepute.

On the economy, the president painted a glorious picture about his economic management team, the performance of which he said has translated into stable macro-economic figures, the payment of almost half of statutory arrears inherited from the previous administration and still implementing the free SHS policy.

For a government which made corruption a big issue during the 2016 campaign but was criticized for showing little commitment to fighting it, one year in office, the president said his resolve to fighting corruption remains unshaken.

He said there is the perception that politically exposed persons were either favoured or witch-hunted by the government of the day adding it is for this reason why the Special Prosecutor’s office had to be created with the citizen vigilante appointed to independently fight the canker.

With the track record of Martin Amidu, the president believes all acts of corruption within his government and that of the previous government will be investigated and prosecuted.

He is convinced Amidu will put the “fear of God” in all appointees some of whom are likely to engage in acts of corruption.

“So far every single act of alleged corruption labeled against any member of my administration has been or is in the process of being investigated by independent bodies and the findings so far made public.

“From the allegations against the Minister of Energy-designate at his parliamentary confirmation hearings, to that against the CEO of BOST; to those against the two Deputy Chiefs of Staff, to the claims of extortion against Trades Minister and to those against the Minister for Special Development Initiatives.

“They all have been investigated and no evidence has been adduced to suggest mildly the perpetration of acts of corruption.

Despite the outcome, the president was unhappy that some “people appear determined to stick to their politically motivated view that there has been corruption. This surely is not a helpful stance.”

The opportunity was given to journalists to ask the president questions of their choice.

The questions ranged from the economy, acts of vandalism by vigilante groups, the size of his government, potential acts of terrorism and the issue of rising unemployment.

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