Former Commissioner for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Emile Short has described as a “relief,” President Mahama’s decision to suspend current CHRAJ boss Lauretta Lamptey.
[contextly_sidebar id=”jqke1WQvjDzcB46FaESJSoGuD3XDeyHZ”]The embattled CHRAJ Commissioner, Lauretta Lamptey, is under investigation by the Attorney Generals Department for “wrongfully” spending thousands of Cedis.
She was on Tuesday suspended by the President.
According to a statement signed by the Chief of Staff, Prosper Bani, “the President took the decision on the advice of the judicial council, pursuant to article 146(10) (b) of the 1992 constitution.”
The statement further added that “the suspension follows the establishment of a prima facie case against Ms. Lamptey by the Chief Justice, and the setting up of a five (5)-member committee to investigate complaints made against her.”
However, expressing his view on the latest development on Eyewitness News, Emile Short said Ms Lauretta Lamptey’s suspension “will go a long way to mitigate the lack of confidence, which had developed in the institution and it will be a relief to these international organizations that were not happy about the allegations that have been made against her.”
He added that her suspension was “timely” adding that the reasons given from the presidency “to protect the integrity of the institution seems to me to be a very sound one, given the fact that so many people have made serious allegations against the commissioner and her continued stay in office was not welcomed by people here and abroad.”
Several groups and individuals including the Progressive Nationalist Forum (PNF) and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Nsawam/Adoagyiri petitioned the Attorney Generals Department and the Presidency to have Ms Lamptey removed for spending about $180,000 on rent and another sum on renovating her official residence.
The Chief Justice later established a five member committee to investigate complaints of misconduct filed against the Commissioner.
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By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana