The Member of Parliament for Asikuma Odobeng Brakwa, Paul Collins Appiah Ofori has said that those who elected Dr Tony Aidoo as a member of the AU Board on Corruption do not understand the fight against corruption. Dr Tony Aidoo, who is the Head of the Evaluation and Oversight Unit at the Presidency was elected member of the 11-member African Union (AU) Advisory Board on Corruption, after 73 per cent of votes cast went to his favour. While he has been praised by many, including members of the ruling party, some in the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) think otherwise. “… I don’t know who nominated him, and whoever nominated him didn’t know what he was doing… So I don’t think he is going to be of use to the nation or to the African organisation,” that was P.C. Appiah Ofori’s comments on Dr Tony Aidoo’s appointment. He was speaking on Adom FM’s Dwa So Nsem on Tuesday. The NPP MP explained that for one to fight corruption effectively, the person must have knowledge about what draws people into it and must be seen to be engaged in activities that reduce or eradicate corruption. Mr Appiah Ofori thinks Dr Tony Aidoo, a former lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, in practice has not been engaged in activities geared towards the eradication of corruption. “Enti onipa a otse sayi wode saa position yi ma no na oko international level a experience ben na ofi ne man mu ha a ode ko join won na wode aye adwuma?” To wit, if you nominate a person like this for such a position, what experience would he bring on board at the international level. To P.C Ofori, Dr Tony Aidoo’s appointment was just a political one. He is of the view that with careful examination another person within the National Democratic Congress who has the requisite knowledge and skills in such a field could have been identified and chosen. In short, he thinks Dr Aidoo does not qualify for the position at all. Responding to this assertion, Dr Tony Aidoo asked P.C what he has done in practical sense to fight corruption in Ghana and what his efforts have amounted to. Tony Aidoo said he was willing to step aside for P.C Appiah Ofori to be given the opportunity to occupy the position, as well as his [Tony’s] post at the presidency including his full salary. But Mr Ofori declined the offer, saying he was not interested in anything that Tony Aidoo has. An obviously irritated Tony Aidoo asked, “Are you the authority on ECOWAS appointments? This is petty-mindedness, what is wrong with you people, what is wrong with you people in the NPP?” “…who are you? Such a loud-mouthed talker… I have given you the opportunity to come for the job. Come and take it… “… I will never behave like you did, go and stand in public and say that my wife has gonorrhea; you see, wo nbu wo ho [you don’t respect yourself]… and you want to be recognised as a respectable person…” Story by Dorcas Efe Mensah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana