Anti-graft body, Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) is mounting pressure on the presidency, to appoint a new Commissioner for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
The former head, Lauretta Lamptey was recently fired by President Mahama.
[contextly_sidebar id=”fKuabpg8YYT8ys5WpN3oFoAiW5Eb1CMl”]Madam Lamptey was suspended after she was accused of spending about 200,000 dollars on rent at the AU Village and about 180, 000 cedis on the renovation of her official residence.
A prima facie case was subsequently established against her to justify full investigations into the complaints against her.
The Chief Justice set up the committee after some Ghanaians petitioned the president to remove her from office following revelations about the cost of her accommodation.
Following a series of investigations, she was removed from office and the Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr. Richard Quayson was appointed as acting Commissioner.
But GII is asking the President to appoint a substantive Commissioner to rather fill the position.
“GII calls on the President to avoid undue delays in the appointment of a substantive Commissioner in consultation with the Council of State. This request is in line with Article 216 of the 1992 Constitution which requires that CHRAJ consists of a Commissioner and two Deputy Commissioners,” a statement signed by the Executive Director of GII, Vitus Azeem noted.
The body , in its statement, defended its calls for a New Commissioner, emphasizing that “the positions of heads of independent constitutional bodies should not remain vacant for unduly long periods (as has happened in the past) and acting positions should normally not exceed six months.”
It also asked the President to release the report on investigations on the sacked CHRAJ Boss, Lauretta Lamptey.
“GII maintains that it is incumbent on officials who hold public office and are paid with public funds to demonstrate the highest standards of integrity in the performance of their duties. It is in this regard, that GII is demanding the publication of the report as the content will be relevant in preventing future occurrences of this behaviour in our public sector.”
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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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