Kwaku Azar hits back at Martin Amidu over attack on Prof. Prempeh

Legal scholar Professor Kwaku Asare, known as Kwaku Azar, has criticized former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu. This criticism follows Amidu's recent attack on Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh. Prempeh is a member of the Constitutional Review Consultative Committee.

In a Facebook post on May 7, Kwaku Azar called Amidu’s remarks misguided. He believes they show a misunderstanding of the committee's role.

Azar stated, “Amidu’s attack on Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh shows confusion about how a Constitutional Review Committee operates.” He added that Amidu's time as Special Prosecutor also revealed confusion about his own mandate.

Kwaku Azar said Amidu sounds like "yesterday’s man." He accused him of distorting the roles of others working within the constitutional framework.

This response came after Amidu publicly questioned Prof. Prempeh's neutrality in the review process. He raised concerns about Prempeh’s past affiliations and writings, suggesting they could affect the review's integrity.

Background

Martin Amidu is a former Attorney General and Ghana’s first Special Prosecutor. Since resigning from the Office of Special Prosecutor in 2020, he has remained vocal in public discussions. He often publishes critiques of government officials and legal reforms.

Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh serves as Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana). Recently, he was appointed to lead public engagement for potential reforms to Ghana's 1992 Constitution.

His appointment has received praise from civil society but also scrutiny from critics like Amidu. The Constitutional Review Consultative Committee was established by President John Dramani Mahama’s administration to address key governance issues in Ghana.

These issues include executive power, Parliament's role, decentralization, and judicial independence. Kwaku Azar advocates for legal reform and supports updating the Constitution with greater transparency and participation.