Last week, the developments of “Woyomegate” put the credibility of the NDC government and the President to the severest test yet. This case appears to be a hydra-headed monster determined to consume this government and this President while in the process, discrediting many of our public institutions. So far, it has implicated a former Attorney General, the Minister of Finance, the office of the President and the Auditor General. And it is just beginning. No one knows where its tentacles may reach yet. Last week, the Attorney General, the well respected Martin Amidu, released a bombshell. He made a number of very significant claims. First, that there were “gargantuan crimes against the people of Ghana”. Second that a colleague Minister perceived him as a threat to the concealment of those crimes and was trying either to coerce him into silence or failing that, to eliminate him. Third that there was a “partisan rented NDC press group who perceive that I am not performing the duties of my office in their partisan interests.” These are very serious claims from the man who was respected enough to be President Mills’ running mate in the 2000 Presidential elections. The Attorney General pledged that he would not be intimidated and that “I have faith and believe in my Ministerial oath of office as a Minister of state and my cabinet oath that requires me “to uphold, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the Republic of Ghana as by law established””. It is said that when Mr. Fish comes from the bottom of the big river to announce to the world that Mr. Crocodile is dead, he must be believed. Therefore, we must take Mr. Amidu at his word. I shall return presently to the Hon. Attorney General and Minister for Justice but let me acknowledge the reactions to his statement first. Within hours after the Attorney General released his statement, Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Deputy Minister of Information, attacked the Attorney General. He said amongst other things that “He (the Attorney General) has opened the Pandora’s box. He has stirred the hornet’s nest.” Which “Pandora’s box” was Mr. Ablakwa referring to? This was followed by calls by some members of the NDC communications team for the Attorney General’s resignation or dismissal. Indeed, some private newspapers reported that the President had met with the Attorney General and asked for his resignation. To compound matters, Dr. Tony Aidoo, the man in charge of Evaluation and Monitoring, stated on City fm on Friday evening that he was not aware of the Attorney General’s statement. While it strains credulity a bit for the generally well-informed and careful Dr. Tony Aidoo to be ignorant of something this important, we must take him at his word. The government’s reaction has been stunning. Here is the government of a party, the NDC whose bedrock principle is accountability. Furthermore, that same government is led by a President who is a Professor—of law. I had naively expected the President and his government to rally to the defense of the embattled Attorney General but I was wrong. Predictably, there have been a lot of reactions to Mr. Amidu, s statement. He has been lauded by many in the public while many in his party—the party of accountability have attacked him. Let me begin with the Attorney General. While his words are bold and admirable—he needs to act. Indeed, while he is understandably worried about those attacking him, the biggest threat to his reputation and his place in history is not the attacks on him. It is his own inaction. He has sworn an oath to protect our constitution and to uphold our laws. He has admitted that he knows of “gargantuan crimes” against Ghana. He has admitted that people are attacking him because he is opposed to their efforts to cover those crimes. In effect, he has claimed that there is obstruction of justice in connection with these crimes. The question to the Attorney General is this “Sir, what are you waiting for?” The Attorney General has an obligation to investigate these crimes and to bring the suspected criminals to justice—together with those accomplices both in his government and in the media who are trying to hide evidence and in effect obstruct Justice. He should pursue this till he is prevented from doing so. The only person who can prevent him from pursuing this case to its logical conclusion is the President. Mr. Amidu should pursue the facts of this case till he is fired. President Mills was admired as a law Professor. His former students uniformly laud him as a great teacher. He has passionate defenders as a man of integrity. As Kwesi Pratt puts it, “I can vouch for President Mills’ personal integrity any time.” Former President Rawlings has expressed similar sentiments in the past. In a certain sense, this issue was tailor-made for this President. As a law Professor, the President is presumably committed to the rule of law. As President, he is obviously obviously required to uphold the law. And it seems that in persuading the reluctant Mr. Amidu to assume the Attorney Generalship, he made a good decision. So where does the President stand on this issue? Was Mr. Ablakwa speaking for the President when he attacked the Attorney General? Where is the President when his Attorney General is under siege from those who want to obstruct justice? Is he on the side of the criminals who want his Attorney General out of the way or on the side of the Attorney General who is seeking Justice? To be fair to the President, there is no information yet on whether the Attorney General communicated his concerns to him before releasing his public statement. However, whether he did or not, the important question is what the President is going to do now that he knows about the plight of his Attorney General. While I, as a layperson, hesitate in offering advice to the President, it appears that his responsibilities in this issue are clear. He must give his Attorney General all the needed support to get to the bottom of this issue. And if for any reason his Attorney General is unable to get to the bottom of this issue, the President himself must ensure that there is a full accounting for what has happened in this issue. Anything less than that will give Ghanaians the unfortunate impression that the President may be on the side of those breaking the law. Candidly, it seems that Wayomigate has become a cancer on this government that must be removed. Without its removal, this government cannot survive. Ghanaians will not accept that the government that took people to court for Ghana@50 and other things finds nothing wrong with these “gargantuan crimes” against Ghana. While we are waiting for the President, where does the NDC stand on this issue? Is the supposed party of accountability going to let Mr. Amidu be pushed out of office for pursuing accountability? During the 1972 US Presidential election campaign, some people from the Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP), broke into the Headquarters of the Democratic Party at the Watergate building in Washington. When the extent of the President Nixon’s involvement became known, his party, the Republican Party helped to force him from office—because they were American patriots. This crisis will show whether the NDC will uphold principle and country regardless of who is involved. Let the NDC come out clearly and tell the world whether they are for accountability or for those trying to silence Mr. Amidu. It is gratifying that NPP Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey has called upon the government to investigate the Attorney General’s claims. His should not be the only voice. This is the time for other political parties, the media, the NGO’s, traditional rulers and the clergy to be heard clearly on the side of right versus wrong. Over the next week, let us hear clearly from the “Daily Graphic”, “The Chronicle”,”Daily Guide “and “Crusading Guide”, to mention just a few. Let the voice of the Christian Council ring out on the side of righteousness. And let us organize a joint march, by all political parties in support of accountability in this case. And if all that does not work—let the political parties band together and ask CHRAJ to investigate the Attorney General’s claims. Finally, we all lament the lack of integrity, courage and principle in our public officials. This is a chance to show whether our governance process has these qualities. Our response will send a clear message to all current and future public officials as to whether they can count on us if they stand up for what is right. Let us not fail Mr. Amidu, accountability and all those who are watching and listening. Let us move forward—together. Arthur Kobina Kennedy, MD Sunday, 16TH January, 2012. University of Cape Coast—Cape Coast.