The Progressive Nationalist Forum (PNF) has described as a “show-off,”\u00a0government\u2019s endorsement of Auditor General\u2019s audit into the finances of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).<\/p>\n
A statement from the Communications Ministry on Monday\u00a0endorsed the Auditor General\u2019s decision to investigate<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/a>the use of public funds by CHRAJ on\u00a0rent, hotel accommodation<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0and an\u00a0extensive renovation of the official residence<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>of the Commissioner, Lauretta Vivian Lamptey.<\/p>\n The spokesperson for the group, Richard Nyamah said: \u201cIn this particular case, some $230,000 or thereabout has been expended and civil society makes noise and then the government also wants to be seen to be acting on corruption and so they come into the frame.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the group, the audit by the Auditor General will yield no positive results.<\/p>\n [contextly_sidebar id=”fZnkeMmiJagHrd1QfKh8R9GYUx5wLmlf”]The statement noted that reported claims of inappropriate use of funds can affect the credibility of the Commission\u2019s work, hence, the resolution to support the Auditor General.<\/p>\n The PNF, which has been advocating for the impeachment of the CHRAJ boss is concerned that Ms Lamptey will go scot free just as other public office holders who were indicted in major corruption scandals including the such as Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) and Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).<\/p>\n Nyamah challenged the government to address the issues raised in the 2012 Auditor General\u2019s report<\/strong><\/span><\/a> into the activities of CHRAJ if it is committed to fighting corruption.<\/p>\n \u201cSeveral audits have been done and nothing has resulted and beyond that, we have seen more monies expended. SADA, GYEEDA; all of them and it took over a year for government to respond or do anything about it,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n He added that if the government wants to be seen as working assiduously to tackle corruption, \u201cthe 2012 Auditor General\u2019s report is there; they should go and work on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Nyamah in an interview with Citi News<\/strong> repeated calls for Ms Lamptey to honourably resign<\/strong><\/span><\/a> <\/span>to redeem the image of the Commission.<\/p>\n He also tasked her to make public, the number of human rights cases<\/strong><\/span><\/a> she claims to have addressed since taking over as CHRAJ boss in 2011.<\/p>\n \u201cShe says she has attended to thousands of human rights issues. We will be very glad if she cites them\u2026 she herself would have also realized that she has consistently ridiculed herself and the only way to regain her image will be to resign,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n According to him, CHRAJ in terms of public opinion \u201chas aged; it no more exists as our number one fighter against corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Nsawam\/ Adoagyiri constituency, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has petitioned the President in a bid to begin moves to officially impeach<\/strong><\/span><\/a> Ms Lamptey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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