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Tag: CHRAJ

  • CHRAJ to scrutinize Frimpong-Boateng’s report before interrogations

    CHRAJ to scrutinize Frimpong-Boateng’s report before interrogations

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has begun evaluating the illegal mining report authored by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Chairman of the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).

    The decision comes after Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi in the Volta Region filed a complaint.

    He has accused government officials of colluding in the fight against illegal mining, despite the report having been dismissed by the Presidency but Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the MP has asked the Commission to investigate the issue.

    Other stakeholders are also calling for an independent probe into the allegations.

    Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of CHRAJ, explained that various procedures would be initiated before a full-scale inquiry begins because the procedures of CHRAJ required it to make an assessment of the complaints.

    He pointed out that procedures of the Commission required they made an assessment of the complaints and not every complaint that was filed met the standards expected of a complaint that could be admitted for investigation.

    “We will do the assessment, determine which of the mandates, if any, has been evoked by the petition, after which if there are any further and better particulars in terms of clarification of documents, we will ask for that from the lawyers of the complainant,” Mr. Whittal indicated.

    Mr. Dafeamekpor called for public hearing as CHRAJ launched a probe into unlawful mining activities in the country.

    In a 37-page document, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, accused important government political actors of poisoning significant water bodies.

    Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, lawyer for the MP, after presenting the petition, said he believed the committee would conduct a thorough investigation and cautioned that the nation would be importing water in future.

    He noted that just as the public had shown interest in the filing of the petition, they should follow up processes and ask questions about how far the investigations had got to and not seem like the issues were solely for the petitioner.

    According to him, the petitioner would be issuing letters to check up on the issues every week to find out what was happening saying “I have been given utmost assurance the issues would be taken seriously, so l leave the rest to the commission.

    “We will give them the benefit of the doubt to do an excellent job since they have done that in the past and CHRAJ stood up to issues of corruption and public interests which is existential matter and must be thoroughly investigated,” Nii Addo intimated.

  • Prof Frimpong-Boateng is not guilty of illegal mining – CHRAJ

    Prof Frimpong-Boateng is not guilty of illegal mining – CHRAJ

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has refuted claims that former Minister of Environment, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, is involved in illegal mining activities in the country.

    Per reports, the former minister has acquired some mining concessions illegally.

    But according to CHRAJ Commissioner Joseph Whittal, investigations carried out by the commission prove that the allegations levelled Prof Frimpong-Boateng are spurious.

    He however clarified that the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) has legal concessions he had difficulty operating due to resistance from a community he failed to identify.

    “We investigated allegations made against Prof Frimpong-Boateng. We went in and did a very thorough investigation, came out with our report, a 116-page report, and the offshoot is that he was not involved in any illegal mining concessions,” Mr Joseph Whittal is quoted to have told TV3 on April 25, 2023 by MyJoyOnline.

    Prof Frimpong-Boateng not involved in galamsey - CHRAJ
    CHRAJ Commissioner, Joseph Whittal

    Prof Frimpong-Boateng has been the talk of town for several days after a report on the work of the IMCIM submitted to the presidency surfaced on online tabloids.

    The 37-page report, dated March 19, 2021, fingered a number of political and government figures of directly and indirectly being involved in illegal mining.

    Among those accused are the late Sir John born Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Joseph Albert Quarm, the former MP for Manso Nkwanta, Laud Commey, Charles Nii Teiko and Frank Asiedu Bekoe.

    “I can state without any equivocation that many party officials from the national to the unit committee level had their friends, PAs, agents, relatives, financiers, or relatives engaged in illegal mining. Most of them engaged Chinese working for them. 

    “I am not referring to party people who had their legitimate concession and were mining sustainably as they were instructed to do. There are appointees in the Jubilee House that are doing or supporting illegal mining or interfering with the fight against the menace,” Prof Frimpong-Boateng said in his report.

    A number of the accused have refuted the claims levelled against them. Mr Lord Commey has challenged the former minister to provide evidence to prove his case.

    Meanwhile, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Office of the Special Prosecutor and Parliament to investigate the matter thoroughly.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Take action on 2020 election killings to prevent escalation in 2024 – Ablakwa to CHRAJ

    Take action on 2020 election killings to prevent escalation in 2024 – Ablakwa to CHRAJ

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has as a matter of urgency, called on the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to finalise its investigations into the 2020 electoral violence and sanction the respective offenders.

    According to Mr Ablakwa in a Facebook post on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, addressing past electoral violence would prevent a recurrence, particularly when tension is building up ahead of the 2024 elections.

    “When CHRAJ and other institutions show patriotic courage by eventually taking action on the 2020 gruesome killings, they will be helping to prevent an escalation in 2024,” he wrote.

    He noted that “the international community is deeply worried particularly about unresolved killings and alarming levels of corruption in Ghana” as captured in the 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices published by the U.S. Department of State.

    The report highlights the 2020 election killings and how none of the investigations officials announced have been completed, and no perpetrator has been brought to justice.

    For Mr Ablakwa, this is significantly troubling as Ghana prepares for another round of presidential and parliamentary elections next year.

    Venting his spleen, the North Tongu MP also chastised President Akufo-Addo for his inability to publicly condemn the loss of lives during the previous elections, as well as commiserate with the bereaved families – arguing that his silence has emboldened several others to make statements that derail Ghana’s democracy.

    “President Akufo-Addo has heartlessly refused to make any public comment on the killings or commiserate with grieving families even though it occurred under his watch as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and even though he was the greatest beneficiary of that bloody election” he said.

    Mr Ablakwa also took a swipe at the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong, for his recent comment over the weekend that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will hold on to power at all cost.

    “The likes of Braggadocios Bryan Acheampong to (have) lawlessly promise(d) more violence and mayhem during the 2024 election. And as was predicted, the security services have been toothless, helpless and hapless following the now infamous incendiary war mongering statements from the Cabinet Minister,” he bemoaned.

    Mr Acheampong’s comments have brought divided opinions from the NPP and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and compelled the National Peace Council to hold a meeting with the political parties over comments inciting violence.

    It is in view of this that Mr Ablakwa has charged CHRAJ to expedite investigations into electoral violence that ensued in areas such as Tamale, Techiman, Odorkor, Ablekuma, Savelugu, last two years – leaving about eight people dead.

    In 2021, Mr Ablakwa and MP for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah Buah, petitioned CHRAJ to look into the unfortunate incident.

    It has been two years and the Commission is yet to provide their findings to the general public.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Justice Emile Short launches book “In the Eyes of the Storm”

    Justice Emile Short launches book “In the Eyes of the Storm”

    A former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Justice Emile Francis Short, has finally come up with a book entitled, “In the Eyes of the Storm.”

    According to him, the purpose for which he sat down to write about himself, especially at age 70 was not for an attractive proposition but for the benefit of the youth and public officers.

    Speaking in an interview with Thelma Tackie on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, the first Commissioner of CHRAJ explained further that his main object in writing the book is to inspire public officials to discharge their functions “without fear or favour, ill will, or affection”.

    He insisted that the book also seeks to encourage the Ghanaian youth to pursue hard work and do the right thing at all times.

    Justice Emile Short hopes that his book will discourage the youth from engaging in unethical practices like 419, Sakawa, Satanism, or occult practices to get rich quickly.

    “Honesty does pay in the long run. The idea of sitting down to write about myself, especially at age 70, was not an attractive proposition. However, I received encouragement from a number of persons who impressed upon me the need to describe how I navigated the journey as Ghana’s first Commissioner for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and the challenges I encountered. My faith in Christ and how it has shaped my career are well articulated in the book,” he reiterated.

    “In the eyes of the storm” recounts the upbringing of an astute lawyer and a public servant, as well as narrating the role his father played in inculcating in him the values of honesty, integrity, and hard work.

    The book also describes Justice Emile Short’s life from secondary school through University and the twists and turns of my career.

  • EC raise alarm concerning delayed administrative payments, other liabilities

    EC raise alarm concerning delayed administrative payments, other liabilities

    A few operational issues at the electoral administration organization have drawn the attention of the Electoral Commission (EC) Senior Staff Association.

    This includes among other things, delays in the payment of administrative releases for the last two quarters of 2022, unprecedented delay in the payment of logistics and other services and delay in the payment of allowances for Commissioners for Oaths engaged during the 2020 voter registration exercise.

    Other bottlenecks according to the workers are the reduction in the allocation of resources, pre-financing of operational and administrative activities and the outstanding payments for some temporary officials engaged during the District Level elections in 2019 and 2020 general elections.

    “The commission’s inability to settle all outstanding administrative releases in full by the 15th February 2023 will cause the hanging of red flags at all offices of the Commission from 16th February 2023 to show our protest”, the employees warned.

    The EC staff outlined these six main issues in a statement following a resolution. They explained each concern and likely consequences as follows:

    A. DELAY IN PAYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE RELEASES FOR TWO QUARTERS FOR THE YEAR 2022 (SIX MONTHS)
    i. Delay in the administrative releases for fuel, accountable imprest and inability to service and maintain official vehicles.
    ii. Payment of unrealistic rates of fuel for official vehicles.
    iii. Current economic conditions make it impossible for Regional Directors, Deputy Regional Directors and District Electoral Officers to Pre-finance fuel for official vehicles and undertake routine servicing and maintenance.
    iv. Inability to make payments for utilities (water and electricity) for the Offices.
    v. Disconnection of some offices of the Commission due to non-payment of utility bills.

    B. DELAY IN THE PAYMENT OF OUTSTANDING BILLS
    i. Non-payments for logistics (canopies, tables, chairs, boats, generators etc.) used for the 2020 voter registration exercise, under- taken during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    ii. Logistics needed for the exercise was hired, based on quotas, rates and operational, instructions from the Commission, amidst ‘strong warnings’ of sanctions in the failure to adhere.
    iii. Payment of only 20% of the total amount submitted for logistics, almost three (3) years after the exercise, which ended successfully for officers to receive commendation from the Commission for a good job done – the registers used for the 2020 elections are in debt.
    iv. District Electoral Officers are pestered on daily bases with incessant calls from vendors to redeem their debts.
    v. Some Vendors have sued some District Electoral Officers in the law courts and CHRAJ in attempts to retrieve their monies because Commission is unable to fulfil financial obligations.
    vi. District Electoral Officers are being verbally abused and even threatened on daily bases for non-payment of bills, making them live in fear.
    vii. District Electoral Officers have lost all the respect, dignity, goodwill and some favour earlier existed in their districts because the Commission has been unable to honour its part of the agreement.
    viii. District Electoral Officers are now having issues with their families and friends from whom they borrowed to offset some of the bills due to frustration.
    ix. District Electoral Officers believe that the Commission thinks the vendors were not truly engaged, hence the commission refusal to pay them.

    C. DELAY IN PAYMENT OF COMMISSIONERS FOR OATHS ENGAGED FOR THE 2020 TRANSFER OF VOTERS
    i. District Electoral Officers were instructed through their Regional Directors to engage the services of Commissioners for Oaths during transfer of voters in the year 2020, and have not been paid allowances after the whole exercise.
    ii. The Commissioners for Oaths keep harassing District Electoral Officers because they haven’t received their allowance yet.

    D. DRASTIC REDUCTION IN THE RESOURCES ALLOCATED FOR OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES BY THE COMMISSION

    I. The Commission has drastically reduced allocated resources since the 2018 Referendum for the Creation Of new regions to date.
    ii. Fuel for recruitment of officials, organisation of grassroots, training of officials, collection, distribution and retrieval of electoral materials from the regional offices to the district offices to the field has been reduced drastically since 2018.
    iii. Daily subsistence allowances (DSA) for staff has also seen a reduction per the number of days stipulated for various electoral activities.
    iv. Resources for hiring of training venue for Training of Trainers (TOT) and grassroots training has been reduced drastically, making the organisation of the training programmes extremely difficult.

    E. After the payment of officials for the 2019 District Level Elections (DLE) and the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, some officials did not receive their allowances due to errors in their bank account details. The leadership of the SSA have made several appeals to Management to see to it that these officials are paid their allowances. However, it appears that the situation has not seen any change.
    We wish to make a final appeal to Management to address this issue timely so that we can continue to enjoy the support, loyalty and cooperation of our temporary officials during future exercises.

    In view of the above, the National Council, the second-highest decision-making body of the SSA and the mouthpiece for Senior Staff Members at the various regions have resolved to the following:

    1. Commissions’ Inability to settle all outstanding administrative releases in full by the 15th February, 2023 will cause the following:
    a. Hanging of red flags at all offices of the Commission from 16th February 2023 to show our protest.
    b. Officers would be unable to perform administrative and operational functions that require any financial commitments.
    c. The National Council of the Association may employ other legitimate and permissible tools under the Labour Laws of Ghana to press on home our demands after hanging of the red flags.

    2. All arrears owned to vendors should be paid by Wednesday 1st March 2023, to enable District Electoral Officers have the peace of mind to live and work in their districts. In the event that the commission fails to make payments.
    a. All calls from vendors will be directed to the Commission.
    b. Vendors will be directed to the Head Office to claim their monies.
    c. District Electoral Officers would be unable to engage the services of vendors for subsequent exercise.

    3. Resources for operational and administrative activities should be restored to their previous levels; and rates and levels should be determined and communicated to officers before the commencement of upcoming activities.
    4. Officers of the Commission would NOT pre-finance any activities under any circumstance.

    5. Management should liaise with the Government as a matter of urgency to implement the recommendations made on conditions of service of the staff of Electoral commission by the Twenty (20)- member fact finding Parliamentary Adhoc Committee set up by Parliament on Friday, 28th January 2011.

    6. Management should also endeavour to address all these pertinent issues in a timely manner for industrial peace and harmony to prevail, considering the fact that this year is an Election year.

  • Security Analyst says Bawku conflict is being fueled by politics

    Security Analyst says Bawku conflict is being fueled by politics

    A Security Analyst, Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has asserted that politics is feeding the ongoing conflict in Bawku.

    Speaking in an interview on The Probe on Sunday, he said the current disturbances in the area are due to the way some politicians have taken an interest in the matter.

    According to him, his interaction with some security officials brought him into the knowledge of how some politicians are adding to the tensions in the area.

    He therefore called for such political interferences to cease in order to help restore calm in the area.

    “The conflict in Bawku if being fed by politics. So the politicians are also fueling it. They’re putting fuel into the whole thing. We don’t need them”, Dr Antwi-Danso stressed.

    He said efforts must rather be geared towards finding a lasting solution to the problem instead of the political interference.

    Last week, seven indigenes of the town were killed by some military personnel in the area.

    The death of these civilians sparked renewed conversations about the long-held conflicts in the area.

    But according to the military, the deceased were wielding guns and their actions sought to disrupt the peace in the area, hence they were ‘neutralised.’

    But Member of Parliament for the area, Mahama Ayariga, says he will seek justice for his constituents who were killed by the military.

    Despite the defence by the military, he stated in an interview on Newsfile on Saturday, that he will get to the root of the matter.

    He has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) accordingly.

    Meanwhile, Dr Antwi-Danso has asserted that even though the reported killing of the civilians is unfortunate, it is not unexpected.

    He thus called on all stakeholders to work around the clock to restore the needed peace in the area, amidst the prevailing tensions.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Mahama Ayariga takes GAF to CHRAJ over killings and brutalities at Bawku

    Mahama Ayariga takes GAF to CHRAJ over killings and brutalities at Bawku

    Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Constituency, Mahama Ayariga, has petitioned the Commission On Human Rights And Administration Justice (CHRAJ) to look into the reported killings and brutalities of his constituents by officers of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

    Per reports, about 10 people were shot dead by members of the armed forces Operation Gongong in Bawku on Tuesday 31st January and Wednesday 1st February 2023.

    According to Mr Ayariga, several human rights such as children’s rights, women’s rights and property rights have been violated by the military.

    In his complaint, the legislator stated that “the military do not deny shooting and killing these residents of Bawku”.

    In a statement issued on 2nd February 2023, the Ghana Armed Forces refuted allegations that soldiers deployed to Bawku to restore calm and maintain order had killed some residents.

    The military explained that passengers on board a yellow KIA Grand Bird Bus with Registration Number AS 3672-21 travelling from Accra to Missiga were attacked by unknown gunmen around Kpawelga on the Bawku Highways. The gunmen fired through the tyre and engine compartment of the vehicle.

    “Also, one KIA Rhino truck with registration number AS 7093-17 was hit and the driver of the truck, Alhassan Abdella aged 40, from the Gonja tribe sustained a gunshot wound on the left foot.

    “Again, on Wednesday 1 February 2023, gunshots were heard around South Natinga in Bawku. A Patrol Team rushed to the general area of the shooting where a suspect, Abdul Malik Haruna, aged 35 from the Mamprusi tribe was arrested.

    “Three suspects, Fatau Alhassan Binda, aged 42, Abubakar Iddrisu, aged 44 and Alhassan Mustapha Binda, aged 33, all from the Dagomba tribe were arrested in a house at Pateleme. They were handed over to the Bawku Police for further investigations.

    “In a separate incident, sporadic firing was heard around Sabongari General Area. A Patrol Team dispatched to assess the situation spotted unknown armed men at Gozesi-Valley side in Sabongari wearing black T-shirts with Black Hoodies. Troops engaged them and neutralized six (6) armed men. During the engagement, some armed men took cover in a mud house within the immediate vicinity to engage the Team.

    “One of the armed men attempted to attack troops with a cutlass but was disarmed in the process. During the operation. a local woman found with a gunshot injury on her left hand was sent to Bawku Presbyterian Hospital by troops for treatment,” GAF’s statement recounted.

    http://backend.theindependentghana.com/jihadists-may-have-infiltrated-bawku-upper-east-regional-minister/

    In response, Mr Ayariga has rejected what he describes as “the self serving coverup account of the circumstances surrounding the brutal killings contained in the statement of the Ghana Armed Forces engaged in Operation Gongong” and has therefore called for an investigation by the CHRAJ so that eyewitnesses can give an accurate account of the brutality with which the military executed the killings.

    “The incidents occurred on the 1st of February 2023. An earlier killing of 2 persons in Patelmi in Bawku by members of the Ghana Armed Forces occurred on 26th of January 2023,” he revealed.

    http://backend.theindependentghana.com/security-analyst-describes-bawku-as-complete-war-zone/

    Meanwhile, Mr Ayariga has among other things demanded a compensation of Five Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (Ghc 500,000.00) for each and every one of those whose lives were taken to be paid to their immediate families as punitive damage.

    He also wants members of the Ghana Armed Forces to be restrained from further acts of brutalities in Bawku in the exercise of their responsibilities to maintain peace in Bawku.

    Again, the Bawku Central MP wants adequate compensation to those who have suffered physical harm.

    Chraj-1 by The Independent Ghana on Scribd

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • We don’t know govt’s total seed money for National Cathedral – Joyce Aryee

    We don’t know govt’s total seed money for National Cathedral – Joyce Aryee

    A member of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, Rev. Joyce Aryee, says the trustees are not privy to the total seed money government is committing to the project.

    “I’m still looking for it, I think that’s the question we need to go and ask–Since the state said it will give us seed money, what percentage is it giving? …No, we were not told, we were just told seed money, and we have relied on the seed money the government will find from time to time. We have not been told the exact amount the seed money is,” she told Umaru Sanda Amadu in an interview on Eyewitness News on Thursday.

    When asked how the board of trustees was operating without the knowledge of government’s commitment, she noted that in such instances, they assume that they are supposed to raise the total budget and consider “the other one [government’s seed money] as a gift. It will be wonderful when the other person [government] brings his gift, otherwise, I’m building [the project without it]”.

    She stated that the Articles of Incorporation make the board of trustees the project owners.

    “Actually the Articles of Incorporation make us the project owners [board of trustees]. It will be a national monument,” she stressed.

    The member of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees stated that they were assigned to raise funds while the government will also support them with other stuff.

    “The project was never meant to be fully financed by the state and when we were called, that is what we were told. The state will do certain things and we the members of the board were to make sure that we raise the money to build the Cathedral. It was never meant to be fully financed by the state,” Rev. Joyce Aryee clarified.

    She stated that the board members were not building blindly because the seed money is not the whole money for the construction of the National Cathedral.

    “We are not building blindly because the seed money is not the entire money for the project,” She underscored.

    The National Cathedral has always been in the news for the wrong reasons with the recent one being a GH¢2.6 million scandal currently being probed by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

    Background of National Cathedral

    The National Cathedral is a promise President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made to God ahead of the 2016 general elections.

    Nana Akufo-Addo said he promised to build a national cathedral for God if he became president and pushed for the project after he was sworn into office in 2017.

    He described the project as a “priority among priorities” but however said it will be funded by the Christian community.

    Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta in 2018 explained that: “The state is facilitating this process by providing the land, the Secretariat, and seed money for the preparatory phase. This National Cathedral partnership framework operationalizes, and indeed is a practical expression of the social partnership envisaged to foster participatory development of the country as our collective goal.”

    Although the initial budget was pegged at $100 million, the amount has over the years ballooned to almost $400 million.

    Gov’t releases GH¢25m seed money

    Government in June 2022 granted the release of GH¢25 million to the National Cathedral Secretariat as additional seed money for the construction of the project.

    A letter, signed by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to the Controller and Accountant’s General, directed that the money be credited to Ribade Limited, for part payment of outstanding claims.

    “Authority is hereby granted to you to release the sum [of] GH¢25, 000,000.00 as additional seed money to the National Cathedral Secretariat for the construction of the National Cathedral for part payment of outstanding claims from RIBADE Limited,” the letter added.

    Government has also released several amounts of money towards the project which is currently at the ground level.

  • I will seek redress against Ablakwa’s defamatory statements – Rev. Kusi Boateng

    I will seek redress against Ablakwa’s defamatory statements – Rev. Kusi Boateng

    Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral of Ghana, Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng, has hinted that he will take action with respect to deliberate defamation targeted at his person by a lawmaker.

    Rev. Kusi Boateng said he was currently committed to responding to a formal enquiry in respect of allegations made against him by Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    The MP mentioned the clergyman in his ‘Mother of all scandals’ publication on January 16, 2023, alleging principally that Kusi Boateng was using two different identities on official documents.

    He had earlier on alleged that an amount of GH¢2.6 million was ‘irregularly’ paid out from the chest of the National Cathedral to JNS Talent Centre, a company closely associated to Kusi Boateng.

    In his response to the accusations, the clergyman stayed away from directly addressing the identity issue but said he welcomed the enquiry by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), following the lodging of an official petition by Ablakwa.

    Kusi Boateng’s statement of January 16, 2023 added: “When all is done, I will seek redress against Mr. Ablakwa for his deliberate defamatory statements against me.

    “I will continue to contribute my quota to the National Cathedral project and offer my services to the country to the best of my ability,” the statement concluded.

    Read the full statement by Kusi Boateng below:

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • MP drags top Nat’l Cathedral official to CHRAJ for conflict of interest

    MP drags top Nat’l Cathedral official to CHRAJ for conflict of interest

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says he will report one of the members of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral Secretariat to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) .

    Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa has presented evidence, accusing the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Secretariat, Rev Victor Kusi Boateng, of registering a company in a different name to transact business with the Secretariat.

    Passports made available by the lawmaker showed the name, Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, who is registered as one of the three directors of JNS Talent Centre Limited. That firm was cited by National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for receiving about GH¢2.6 million from the Secretariat for “no work done”.

    According to the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Rev Kusi Boateng is the same Kwabena Adu Gyamfi despite differences in age, TINs, professions and addresses on the passports.

    “From unassailable and irreproachable documents in my possession, Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng AKA Kwabena Adu Gyamfi uses multiple passports and multiple identification cards with different names and different dates of birth as his special modus operandi,” the MP wrote on Monday, January 16.

    He later added: “These explosive findings make the conflict of interest charge in the GHS2.6million scandalous payment by the National Cathedral of Ghana to the shady JNS Talent Centre Limited even more blatant, direct, offensive and absolutely embarrassing.”

    The lawmaker says he will proceed to CHRAJ on Monday at 1:00pm for the corruption-investigating body to invoke “its mandate under Article 218 of the 1992 Constitution to investigate the odious conflict of interest”.

    He has also served notice to file an urgent question when Parliament resumes for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, to inform Ghanaians why Rev. Victor Kusi-Boateng qualified for a diplomatic passport and the nature of due diligence, if any, her ministry may have carried out.

    He said he will also file an urgent question for the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, on exactly what work JNS did to warrant the GH¢3.5 million transfer and why that transaction did not find expression in his GH¢339 million cathedral withdrawals as presented to the Vote of Censure Committee.

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  • End forced & child labour – Community volunteers to gov’t, firms

    In the first of a series of joint quarterly district dialogue held in Asankragua, in the Wassa Amenfi West district, the district assembly, representatives from other government agencies, cocoa companies, gold mining association and community representatives came together to discuss various commitments made that would support the elimination of forced and child labour in the local communities.

    While progress has been made in recent years towards eradication of child labour, especially the impact of Covid-19 which saw schools shut down around the globe has exacerbated the situation putting an additional 9 million children at risk of child labour globally.

    Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire account for over 60% of global cocoa production. While this significantly boosts the country’s economy, it has also brought serious challenges, including a rise in forced labour and child labour due to several factors including the above.

    The government of Ghana and cocoa companies have made a lot of effort in interventions towards eradicating child and forced labour.

    Nonetheless, the menace still persists and is a cause of concern to both producing and consuming countries.

    It is because of this concern that the Norwegian government with funding through NORAD is working with Rainforest Alliance together with communities through its local partners, the Center for Social Impact Studies and New Generation Concern, to curb the menace.

    In a plenary after group discussions, community representatives presented their concerns about interventions being implemented at the community level by government and cocoa companies/gold associations to eradicate child labour in the last four months. They also advocated for inclusion in discussions that leads to choice of interventions by companies and government that will best meet their needs and make an impact.

    The Wassa Amenfi Municipal Assembly, as part of its commitment to eliminating child labour and the worst form of child labour, indicated that they will support community self-help initiatives in mining and cocoa communities to eradicate child labour.

    To this end, the Municipality is urging local communities to submit to the District Assembly such initiatives for validation and support.

    A Development Planning Officer of the Assembly, Cyril Ankomah, made this known at a dialogue on child and forced labour by the RainForest Alliance and their local partners in Asankragua.

    According to the Assembly, reporting child labour cases is free, and called on people to support the Municipality in dealing with the menace.

    Representative from CHRAJ, Social Welfare and NCCE present also mentioned what they have been doing so far and pledged their continuous support to collaborate with other stakeholders in raising awareness.

    The Sustainability Officer of Touton Ghana Cocoa Buying Company, Manasseh Ameworlor, who spoke on behalf of cocoa companies at the meeting, reiterated their total commitment towards eliminating child labour in their operational areas.

    He said the companies would continue to support schools with furniture, reading materials, and playgrounds and form climate-smart groups.

    He urged RainForest Alliance and their local partners to organize regular dialogues since it keeps everyone in check regarding child and forced labour.

    A consultant on the project, Elizabeth Adubofour, encouraged the stakeholders to work assiduously towards preventing, identifying and addressing forced and child labour whiles she encouraged the community members to be diligent in their work and contribute their quota towards this shared responsibility as they have roles to play in its eradication.

    The Senior Project Manager (Forced and Child Labour), RainForest Alliance, Joyce Poku-Marboah, drew attention to the fact that there is difference between child work and child labour and not every work a child gets involved in is child labour.

    She also called on government, cocoa and gold-mining companies to fulfill their commitments and be more proactive by committing to their own plans, strategies and activities designed to eliminate child and forced labour.

    She said the district dialogue was premised on the grounds that child labour was a shared responsibility that required the involvement of all stakeholders to work to eliminate the practice from the sector.

    “We Need to Collaborate. Together We Can!”

    Present at the district dialogue were representatives from the district assembly (representing government), cocoa companies and goldmining associations, religious leaders, social welfare and community development, NCCE, CHRAJ and community volunteers and opinion leaders.

  • State has primary responsibility to fight corruption — CHRAJ

    Mr. Richard A. Quayson, Deputy Commissioner, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has stated that the State has the primary responsibility to fight corruption and make its practice a high risk.

    He added that the conversation on corruption should start with the Directive Principle of State Policy that dealt specifically with corruption and Chapter 24 of the Constitution.

    He said Article 34 (8) mandated the State to play the leading role in the fight against corruption.

    Mr. Quayson was speaking at the 2022 International Anti-Corruption Day Symposium organised by the commission which was on the topic: “Curbing Corruption through a Rigorous Conduct of Public Officers Law: The Perspective of CHRAJ”.

    The CHRAJ Deputy Commissioner deduced that corruption was a system that thrives where effective preventative and enforcement systems are lacking.

    He said the Code of Conduct (COC) for Public Officers can only be effective to curb corruption in Public Office when “we have in place a framework that delegates authority for implementation, compliance, enforcement, and sanctioning powers to specified integrity agency or agencies, which have in place rules, policies and procedures for inter-agency cooperation”.

    It is, therefore, important that all prohibited unethical conduct was adequately defined so officials know what behaviors are prohibited and what constitutes violations, and which agency is responsible for enforcing compliance, as well as prevention and detection systems, he said.

    Mr. Quayson noted that the lack of clarity in these and other areas corruption to thrive while handicapping institutions responsible for prevention and detection.

    It also lowers the credibility of the Public Office and the Government as a whole and erodes the trust that people want to have in public institutions and the Government.

    The CHRAJ Deputy Commissioner said equally important was that the range of sanctions and penalties for breaches of the Code are proportionate, dissuasive, and effective, stressing “we should not use a Code of Conduct law to criminalize conduct”.

    Mr. Quayson said findings from the 2021 Ghana Integrity of Public Services Survey (GIPSS) revealed that corruption was still rife in Public Service, stressing that public trust appears to continue to diminish.

    He said the findings reveal that a greater proportion of adults in Ghana have more confidence in religious and traditional justice systems relative to the formal one.

    He said data from the GIPSS survey indicates that seven in every 10 representing 69.9 percent of adults hold the view that the religious and traditional leaders’ system effectively protected the rights of every citizen, a figure that was 10.8 percentage points higher than those who agreed that the formal justice system effectively protects the rights of every citizen 59.1 percent.

    “This, obviously, should not be allowed to continue, and the ball is now in our court,” stressing that the public does not demand that public servants should be angels.

    Mr. Quayson said their revulsion is with the unruly manner we appear to manage their interests and their scarce resources, adding “it may not always be the case, but appearances and perception alone can create disaffection and erode public confidence in public service”.

    He said “the Government and Public Service owe it to the people in whose name and on whose behalf, we exercise the powers of the State to put our house in order and restore confidence and hope to our people”.

  • It’s difficult to force public officers to declare assets – CHRAJ

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has indicated that it lacks the mandate to compel public officials to abide by the law on asset declaration, hence their failure to do so.

    Commissioner of CHRAJ, Joseph Whittal explained that Chapter 24 of the 1992 Constitution which focuses on the Code of Conduct for public officers does not give enforcers the legal framework for sanctioning individuals who fail to declare their assets.

    Speaking at the forum to mark the 2022 edition of the International Anti-Corruption Day, Mr Whittal said “we sometimes also feel helpless because when you have the law that does not critically tell you that, look, if somebody doesn’t declare before he assumes office, or he leaves office or every four years, you should give or mete out sanctions A, B, C and D, it becomes problematic.

    “Indeed allegations of non-compliance with Chapter 24 of the Constitution, especially conflict of interest, and non declaration of assets and liabilities continue to dominate the media space. We all know what is happening. This year alone, the Commission received a record number of cases bordering on non-compliance and contravention of Chapter 24 of the Constitution. And we are currently investigating the same,” Mr. Whittal added.

     Article 286 (1) of the 1992 Constitution clearly states that “all public office holders must submit a written declaration to the Auditor-General of all properties or assets possessed by them, as well as all liabilities payable to them directly or indirectly.

    Per the law, the declaration of assets shall be made by the public officer “before taking office, at the end of every four years, and at the end of the term of his office and shall, in any event, be submitted not later than 6 months of the occurrence of any of the events specified in this subsection.”

     The President, Vice-President, Speaker, Deputy Speakers of Parliament, ministers and deputy ministers of state, ambassadors, the Chief Justice and managers of public institutions are all to declare their assets.

    However, Ghana’s asset declaration regime has somewhat become a toothless bulldog, and ineffective in the fight against corruption.

    Although President Akufo-Addo after assuming office in 2017 directed all his appointees to declare their assets, reports by the Fourth Estate says not all the ministers complied with the directive.

    Out of over 120 ministers, only 18, according to the Fourth Estate, adhered to the constitutional provision in Article 268 (1) of the 1992 Constitution and declared their assets.

    Mr Whittal, however, is optimistic that the continuous disregard of asset declaration will be a thing of the past if the  Public Officers Bill (CoPO) is passed by Parliament.

    He believes that the yet-to-be-passed bill will be a solution to this.

    The Commissioner of CHRAJ said, “the current bill as it is, pending before Cabinet, our proposals for the type of sanctions that should be meted out to public officers depending on the stage in which the person failed to declare their asset has been captured.”

    “We are hoping that the law will come into force so that we know exactly what to do.”

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • It’s difficult to force public officers to declare assets – CHRAJ

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) says it’s been left helpless on many occasions in enforcing Chapter 24 of the 1992 Constitution which focuses on the Code of Conduct for public officers.

    The Code of Conduct provides that public officers comply with oaths, prevent conflict of interest situations and declare their assets and liabilities upon assumption of office.

    However, the provision is flouted on many occasions; a situation CHRAJ believes breed corruption in public service.

    But CHRAJ is confident the yet to be passed conduct of Public Officers Bill (CoPO) will be an antidote to this challenge.

    Speaking at an event to mark 2022 edition of the International Anti-Corruption Day, Commissioner of CHRAJ, Joseph Whittal complained that the bill is currently pending approval from Cabinet 3 years since it was drafted.

    “No one can deny the importance of a code of ethics for public officers in the fight against corruption. Indeed allegations of non-compliance with Chapter 24 of the Constitution, especially conflict of interest, and non declaration of assets and liabilities continue to dominate the media space. We all know what is happening.

    “This year alone, the Commission received a record number of cases bordering on non-compliance and contravention of Chapter 24 of the Constitution. And we are currently investigating same,” Mr. Whittal said.

    He feared if action is not taken, the bill passage will also delay as in the case of the Right Information Bill.

    “Our fear is that if action is not taken, CoPO Bill might suffer the same challenge that the Right to Information Bill faced before it was passed into law. We are going to fight corruption, this situation certainly deserve it” he said.

  • CHRAJ begins probe into Anas’ petition against Ofori-Atta

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has begun investigating a conflict of interest petition brought before it by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

    The investigative journalist who is the founder of Tiger Eye P.I is urging CHRAJ to look into allegations that the private companies of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, benefitted from loans and bonds entered into by Ghana.

    Earlier, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta had been accused of employing the services of a company he co-founded, Data Bank Financial Services – as advisors for some of Ghana’s international loan transactions.

    While Black Star Brokerage, a company belonging to Charles Adu Boahen has also been accused of benefitting from transactions on government bond issuance.

    Both companies have allegedly been acting as financial advisors and Bond Market Specialists to the Ministry of Finance.

    Confirming the development to JoyNews, CHRAJ Commissioner, Joseph Whittal said the Commission has received an official complaint from the Tiger Eye PI team and is assessing the materials presented to it.

    “The allegations are that there is conflict of interest in terms of their official duties as public officers and the companies in which they have interest in terms of government bonds and so the case is going through the standard process of assessment in order to make sure that it meets procedural requirement under the Commission’s regulation as well as whether it is really within the mandate of the Commission. Based on that, we will then decide what next steps to take,” Mr. Whittal said.

    Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has also commenced investigations into the same corruption allegations levelled against Charles Adu Boahen in an exposé after President Akufo-Addo’s referral of the matter to the Office.

    Background

    The Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo in 2018 accused Ken Ofori-Atta of conflict of interest following the appointment of Databank Financial Services as transaction advisors to the Ministry and the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in the issuance of government bonds.

    The MP in a letter titled: ‘Databank must be withdrawn as TA to Ministry of Finance,’ said industry watchers and well-meaning Ghanaians needed to be “concerned” about the development, “especially given the things that unfolded at the Ministry of Finance with regard to public bond issuance since the assumption into office of Mr Ofori-Atta.

    “It lends credence to growing disquiet in the financial sector that family and friends are having a better part of government-related businesses, not track record, competence and clout,” he stated.

    According to him, Barclays Bank, Ghana, Standard Chartered Bank, Ghana and Strategic African Securities (SAS) used to be the book runners for the BoG. However, he said Databank was replaced with SAS given the relationship between the Finance Minister and Databank.

    “It is disgusting to note that Databank, which is the baby of the current Finance Minister, is now a book runner at the Bank of Ghana (BoG). It is instructive to note that the presence of Databank in the Transactions Advisor team puts the Minister of Finance in a potential conflict of interest situation,” he mentioned.

    Mr. Charles Adu Boahen while appearing before the Parliament’s Appointment Committee in 2021, said he was no longer involved in the running of Black Star Brokerage, which he owns. Mr Adu-Boahen said he had resigned from the company in 2017 and had since not engaged in any of its activities.

    “As I mentioned earlier, I resigned from the board and the management of Black Star Brokerage in 2017. I have no role and do not participate in its business dealings,” he stated.

    Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance dismissed such claims that Databank and Black Star Brokerage were handpicked by the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Ghana to act as Bond Market Specialists for government bond issuance, hence benefiting from those transactions.

    In a statement, the Ministry said, it is incorrect the claim that these two firms have been appointed as advisors to the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

    “The selection of the Primary Dealers [PDs] and Bond Market Specialists [BMSs] is an automatic process based on market performance and historical secondary market trading activity which is publicly available and cannot be manipulated by the Ministry of Finance [MoF] or the Bank of Ghana [BoG]”.

    “Since 1996, the Ministry of Finance with the Bank of Ghana has developed and implemented various policies which affect the issuance and trading of Government of Ghana debt securities (Treasuries and Bonds). The ultimate objectives of these policies are to develop an efficient fixed income market, strengthen the capacity of local institutions and deepen financial intermediation”, it added.

    Furthermore, it pointed out that Databank and Black Star Brokerage are two out of nine firms that have been selected by BoG/MoF as Bond Market Specialists and not Advisors to MoF.

    Source: MyJoyOnline

  • Anas’ petition: CHRAJ will not ask Ofori-Atta to step aside; it’s for Akufo-Addo to decide – Emile Short

    Former Commissioner at the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative (CHRAJ) Emile Short has said that the Commission will not ask the Finance Minister to stay out of office following the petition filed by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas against him.

    He said the decision to stay out of office or not is a matter for the President to decide.

    Speaking on the News 360 on TV3 Monday November 22, Mr Short said “I don’t know exactly what the issue is, but basically, when CHRAJ receives a complaint it will send to the person against whom the complaint is made and that person has to respond within a specified period, normally ten days. The response will be sent back to the complainant, in this case Anas, for his response.

    “CHRAJ will not ask the Finance Minister to stay out of office, that is the matter for the President to determine.”

    The petitioner, Anas, raised issue of conflict of interest against the Finance Minister for which he should be investigated.

    CHRAJ boss Joseph Whittal told journalists on Monday November 21 that “The allegations are that there is conflict of interest in terms of their official duties as public officers and the companies in which they have interest in terms of government bonds and so the case is going through the standard process of assessment in order to make sure that it meets procedural requirement under the Commission’s regulation as well as whether it is really within the mandate of the Commission. Based on that, we will then decide what next steps to take.”

    The NDC Minority in Parliament made a number of allegations against Mr Ofori-Atta for which they are seeking to remove him from Office.

    The accusations are “Despicable conflict of Interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantage.

    Unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 Constitution supposedly for the construction of the President’s Cathedral;

    Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament Fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana Cedi which is currently the worst performing currency in the world;

    Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and on excruciating cost of living crisis; Gross mismanagement of the economy which has occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship.

    Mr Ofori-Atta refuted all these allegations when he appeared before the 8-member committee that was investigating him.

  • Anas petitions CHRAJ to investigate Ken Ofori-Atta

    Investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

    CHRAJ Commissioner, Joseph Whittal confirmed to the media that the Commission has received an official complaint from the Tiger Eye PI team on a conflict of interest situation involving Ken Ofori-Atta and Former Minister of State, Charles Adu Boahen.

    Tiger Eye PI in its petition alleged that the duo have engaged in conflict of interest in the use of their companies in relation to the purchase of government bonds while executing their duties as state officials.

    “The allegations are that there is conflict of interest in terms of their official duties as public officers and the companies in which they have interest in terms of government bonds and so the case is going through the standard process of assessment in order to make sure that it meets procedural requirement under the Commission’s regulation as well as whether it is really within the mandate of the Commission. Based on that, we will then decide what next steps to take,” Whittal said.

    It will be recalled that Charles Adu Boahen was dismissed for alleged influence peddling in the latest expose, ‘Galamsey Economy’ by Anas.

    Mr. Adu Boahen has however, denied being involved in any corrupt activity and said the documentary sought to entrap him.

    Already, the Minority in Parliament has also accused the Finance Minister of conflict of interest as part of the justification for the censure motion against him.

    During the Committee hearing, lawyers for Ken Ofori-Atta argued that any allegation of conflict of interest can only be investigated and within the purview of CHRAJ and therefore prayed for the Committee to strike out that allegation.

    If CHRAJ finds it worth investigating, the accused persons would be required to appear before the antigraft institution to answer some questions in relation to the petition filed.

    Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta is currently facing a censure motion by the Minority to remove him from office while 98 of the NPP MPs have declared a vote of no confidence in his ability to deliver on the mandate of Finance Minister.

    As part of the demand for ken Ofori-Atta to be sacked, the Minority said the Minister’s incompetence has resulted in the current poor state of the economy.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com

  • Corruption costs Ghana more than the $3bn it is seeking from IMF – Dr Ali-Nakyea

    A lecturer at the University of Ghana School of Law is worried about the imprudence that surrounds government expenditure in the country.

    According to Dr Abdallah Ali-Nakyea, judicious spending could have saved the country many funds to the extent that government would not need support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    He alluded to the revelation in 2018 when the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Rev. Richard Quayson revealed that the country loses more than $3 billion every year through corruption.

    Coincidentally, it is about the same amount that the Finance Minister is seeking to get from the IMF in the ongoing talks.

    “The report of CHRAJ and Ghana Integrity Initiative exist telling us that we lose over $3 billion every year to corruption. That is the same amount we are going to the IMF for,” he said.

    Ali-Nakyea was speaking at the ICAG Round Table Meeting on Tuesday, November 8 which was aired on Joy FM.

    The programme was on the theme, ‘Managing IMF expectation and Ghana’s economy: the way forward.’

    The law lecture insisted that reducing the loopholes in expenditure will decelerate the widening debt deficit that the country has been suffering over the past few years.

    “So that is what I see about trying to hold the wide deficit. Let’s be prudent in our spending.”

    Ghana is currently at the doors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a possible $3 billion bailout amid intensifying hardship, skyrocketing fuel prices, a rising cost of living and a depreciating cedi.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • The ongoing prosecutions reflect my commitment to fighting corruption – Akufo-Addo

    The ongoing prosecution of former and current government officials has “vindicated” President Nana Akufo-commitment Addo to fighting corruption.

    According to him, legislation to enhance the legal framework for dealing with corrupt activities, such as the CHRAJ, EOCO, and the Judiciary, is a strong sign of the government’s and his own desire to combat corruption.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo made these statements in an interview on Otec FM’s morning show “Nyansapo” hosted by Captain Koda, in Kumasi, on Monday, October 17, 2022.

    He stated that he has not hesitated to back the Attorney-General to prosecute any person where there is evidence like in the case of the former head of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng.

    “There are a whole lot of prosecutions going on of people of the past government and even of this government. The former head of the Public Procurement Authority is on trial today for acts of corruption in my time,” the president noted.

    “There is also a whole lot of legislation to strengthen the legal framework for dealing with the acts of corruption. All the corruption institutions like the police, the CHRAJ, the EOCO, and the Judiciary among others have been strengthened,” he added.

    He mentioned that the creation and works of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) have also given him hope in the quest to reduce corruption in the country.

    “Kissi Agyebeng is doing very in that office. He is not a direct government or party member but somebody who has the courage to strike where he has to strike, irrespective of the person’s party affiliation,” he eugolized.

     

  • 25 trafficked victims rescued, reunited with their families at Ada East District

    Some twenty-five (25) children have been rescued at Ada in the Ada East District of the Greater Accra Region.

    The victims, who were trafficked from the Ada East District to Ekye-Amanfrom in the Afram Plains, Akosombo, Akate, and Kpetoi (lsland) for exploitation on the Volta Lake, have now been reunited with their families.

    The rescue operations were carried out by Engage Now Africa (EMS), a non-governmental organization in collaboration with the Ada East District Ghana Police Service, the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

    25 trafficked victims rescued, reunited with their families at Ada East District

    Mr. Afasi Komla, Director of End Modern Slavery (EMS) disclosed to the media after the rescuing and reintegration ceremony that they acted very fast in rescuing the victims upon a tip-off they received last three weeks.

    According to information received from the good Samaritan, out of the 25 children from the communities that were engaged in child labor, five of them were involved in other activities.

    Mr. Afasi, defines Child Labour as work that is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and that interfere with their schooling by depriving them of school, either by obliging them to leave school prematurely or by requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with an excessive load of heavy work.

    25 trafficked victims rescued, reunited with their families at Ada East District

    He said his outfit has provided the 25 victims with their educational needs, health needs and also given their parents sustainable livelihood support so that they can be able to take good care of their wards.

    He advised the general public to understand that children are meant to learn and not to earn.

    On her part, the Ada East District Head of Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mrs. Elizabeth Hammand-Agyeman, stated that development starts with family through unity.

    According to her, government can not do everything, hence the need for parents to protect themselves and their children.

    She said planning on the number of children one should give birth to is the surest way to prevent human trafficking issues.

    She indicated that government is also part of childbearing which is why they build schools, hospitals, etc to ensure that everyone can get access to his/her basic needs.

    25 trafficked victims rescued, reunited with their families at Ada East District

    Mrs. Hammond-Agyeman advised the victim’s parents not to misuse the monies given to them but rather they should take good care of it and use it for the intended purpose.

    Representative of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) urged the victim’s parents not to let their children do tedious works because such requests from them are against the law.

    Additional, 29 victims have been identified and work is ongoing to rescue them.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • CHRAJ urges human rights institutions to comply with UN Paris Principles

    The Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has entreated the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) to comply with the United Nations Paris Principles in the implementation and protection of the rights and freedoms of all persons.

    Mr Joseph Whittal, CHRAJ Commissioner, also urged NHRIs to hold governments accountable for their human rights obligations.

    Mr Whittal made the call during an experience sharing visit of a three-member high level delegation from the National Human Rights Commission of Mali (Commission National des Driots de l’Homme) (CNDH).

    The CHRAJ Commissioner, who also doubles as the President of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA), said international human rights performance standards such as the Paris Principles would ensure independence, competence, credibility, and accountability of NHRIs, and empower them to be effective in their work.

    Mr Whittal recalled a study of a comparative analysis of African NHRIs and whether their legal frameworks met the effectiveness criteria of the Paris Principles.

    He said the study analyzed the independence, competencies, responsibilities, funding, and financial autonomy of NHRIs, and discovered some limitations in their legal framework, as well as their operational, financial, and appointment autonomy.

    He observed that restrictive mandates imposed by enabling legislation, including poorly written legislation, inadequate protection within the enabling legislation regarding the security of tenure, and ambiguous laws on the powers and functions of these institutions were pointed out as major threats to the legal autonomy of NHRIs.

    The CHRAJ Commissioner disclosed that the report revealed the inadequate ability of some NHRIs to execute their mandates without external interferences, controls, influence or obstruction from any branch of the government, private bodies, and other powerful individuals.

    He noted that withholding of finances by the State to exert controls and inconsistencies in the appointment or removal of Commissioners along with harassment, arbitrary arrests, and murder of human rights defenders, threatened the independence and effectiveness of NHRIs.

    Mr Whittal emphasized that African Governments ought to be conscious of human rights and adopt transparency in the appointment of Commissioners to guarantee the designation of people with integrity, skill, qualification, and competence to head the NHRIs.

    He said a substantive level of political will was required to promote and protect human rights by guaranteeing NHRIs a secure and conducive operating environment.

    He, therefore, urged the delegation from CNDH to resist interference in their operations and to continuously work at implementing the Paris Principles, coupled with adhering to the recommendations of GANHRIs Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) which are aimed at strengthening NHRIs.

    The President of the Mali CNDH and head of the delegation, Mr Aguibou Bouare, also stated that the visit to CHRAJ was critical in the light of the new challenges facing Mali under its Military Regime to draw inspiration from the experience of the Commission, which has maintained its ‘A’ status since 1996.

    He said CHRAJ was a relevant institution beyond Ghana, which inspires a lot of African NHRIs, and so was excited to learn and benefit from its rich experiences to enable them “maintain and consolidate their ‘A’ status”.

    Mr Bouare assured CHRAJ that they would spare no effort in discharging their duty to promote a human rights culture, and adopt the knowledge gained from CHRAJ, as well as implement the SCA’s recommendations in Mali.

    The Paris Principles are a set of standards that frame and guide the work of NHRIs which were drafted at an international NHRIs workshop in Paris in 1991 and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in its Resolution 48/134 of 1993.

    The criteria of these Paris Principles require NHRIs to be independent in law, membership, operations, policy and control of resources.

    They also require that NHRIs have broad mandates, pluralism in membership, broad functions, adequate powers, adequate resources, cooperative methods, and engagement with international bodies to be credible and independent.

  • CHRAJ investigates 400 public officials who haven’t declared their assets

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has commenced investigations into over 400 public officials who have failed to declare their assets.

    CHRAJ explains that 284 of the cases being investigated were brought to its attention in August this year.

    The Constitution demands that any person who holds public office must submit a declaration of assets to the Auditor General, within three months of coming into office.

    Speaking at a forum in Accra, the Director of Anti-Corruption at CHRAJ, Stephen Azantilow, decried the failure of public officers to comply with the requirement.

    ”There are some public officials who have made up their minds never to declare their assets.”

    “We at CHRAJ also feel helpless because when we have a law that doesn’t compel these people to declare their assets it becomes a challenge,” he added.

  • 428 public officers under investigation – CHRAJ reveals

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is currently investigating 428 public office holders for various violations.

    This was revealed at a public forum on “Declaration of Assets by Public Office Holders and the Fight Against Corruption in Ghana,” organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on Tuesday in Accra.

    Giving a breakdown of the figure, Director, Anti-Corruption at CHRAJ, Mr Stephen Azantilow, noted that 284 of the cases were brought to the attention of the Commission in August this year.

    Director, Anti-Corruption at CHRAJ, Mr Stephen Azantilow, noted that officials who failed to disclose their assets in 2020 were also under scrutiny.

    The laws of the state frown on public office holders not declaring their assets before assuming office.

    Article 286 (1) of the 1992 Constitution categorically states that: “a person who holds a public office mentioned in clause (5) of this Article shall submit to the Auditor- General a written declaration of all property or assets owned by or liabilities owed by him, whether directly or indirectly, (a) within three months after the coming into force of this Constitution or before taking office, as the case may be, (b) at the end of every four years; and (b) at the end of his term of office.”

    This law applies to the President, Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament, Deputy Speakers of Parliament, members of Parliament, ministers and deputy ministers of state, ambassadors, the Chief Justice, Judges of the Superior Court, Judges of the Inferior Court, and managers of public institutions in which the state has an interest and submits to the Auditor-General written declarations of all property or assets owned by or liabilities owed by them, whether directly or indirectly.

    The Constitution also requires the declaration to be done before the public officer takes office.

    However, Section 1(4)(c) of the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act directs public office holders to meet this requirement “not later than six months after taking office, at the end of every four years, and not later than six months at the end of his or her term.”

    In spite of these regulations, most public officers have not declared their assets before assuming office or within the stipulated period for asset declaration.

    CHRAJ has indicated its readiness to combat this by bringing culprits to book.

    Explaining why CHRAJ has been unable to keep this under check, he said “we sometimes also feel helpless because when you have a law that does not critically tell you that look if somebody doesn’t declare before he assumes office, or he leaves office or every four years, you should give or mete out sanctions A, B, C and D, it becomes problematic.”

    The Commission is therefore pushing for the passing of the Code of Conduct Officers Bill.

    “And that is why when the new bill, that is the Code of Conduct Officers Bill came before us we made a lot of input and even the current bill as it is, pending before Cabinet, our proposals for the type of sanctions that should be meted out to public officers depending on the stage in which the person failed to declare their asset has been captured.

    “We are hoping that the law will come into force so that we know exactly what to do,” he said.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • CHRAJ investigating 428 cases of non-declared assets

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) says it is investigating some 428 public office holders for failing to declare their assets.

    Mr Stephen Azantilow, Director, Anti-Corruption at CHRAJ, revealed this at a public forum on “Declaration of Assets by Public Office Holders and the Fight Against Corruption in Ghana,” in Accra on Tuesday.

    Mr Azantilow, however, did not give further details on the cases as that could prejudice the outcome of the investigations

    He, however, revealed in a telephone interview with the Ghana News Agency, that the investigations extended to officials who failed to declare their assets in 2020.

    He added that 284 of them were also cases that were brought to the attention of the Commission in August this year.

    The forum, organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), brought together several anti-corruption campaigners and associations as well as some political parties.

    Article 286 (1) of the 1992 Constitution states that “a person who holds a public office mentioned in clause (5) of this Article shall submit to the Auditor-General a written declaration of all property or assets owned by or liabilities owed by, him whether directly or indirectly (a) within three months after the coming into force of this Constitution or before taking office, as the case may be, (b) at the end of every four years; and (b) at the end of his term of office.”

    The law requires that the President, Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament, Deputy Speakers of Parliament, members of Parliament, ministers and deputy ministers of state, ambassadors, the Chief Justice, Judges of Superior Court, Judges of Inferior court and managers of public institutions in which the state has interest submit to the Auditor-General written declarations of all property or assets owned by, or liabilities owed by them, whether directly or indirectly.

    The Constitution also requires the declaration to be done before the public officer takes office.

    However, Section 1(4)(c) of the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act directs public office holders to meet this requirement “not later than six months after taking office, at the end of every four years and not later than six months at the end of his or her term.”

    Reacting to criticisms that the Commission had failed to hold public officials who did not comply with the Act, Mr Azantilow said the absence of explicit punishment in the law had rendered it helpless.

    “We sometimes also feel helpless because when you have the law that does not critically tell you that look if somebody doesn’t declare before he assumes office, or he leaves office or every four years, you should give or mete out sanctions A, B, C and D, it becomes problematic.

    “And that is why when the new bill, that is the Code of Conduct Officers Bill came before us we made a lot of input and even the current bill as it is, pending before Cabinet, our proposals for the type of sanctions that should be meted out to public officers depending on the stage in which the person failed to declare their asset has been captured.

    “We are hoping that the law will come into force so that we know exactly what to do,” he said.

    He also added that as a Commission, its decisions were not always final.

    “You people are aware that some of our decisions have been challenged in court. So, if you make a decision that does not stand the test of time, it will be challenged in court and we have faced those embarrassments so we are also careful the way we do our things,” Mr Azantilow said.

    Mrs Linda Ofori-Kwafo, Executive Director, Ghana Integrity Initiative, emphasised the need for strong leadership to ensure the enforcement of the asset declaration regime.

    Source: GNA

  • CHRAJ should have declared Chief Justice, EC boss unfit for office – Manasseh Azure

    Renowned investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has berated the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice +Chairperson of the Electoral Commission but CHRAJ’s rulings were very problematic.

    “I don’t think that we will be having some of these names if the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana was declared unfit to hold public office by CHRAJ,” he said.

    He intimated that should CHRAJ have ruled that the current Chief Justice is unfit for office and President Akufo-Addo chooses to ignore its ruling, the pressure on him will force him not to take the position.

    “A similar thing happened with the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and we didn’t find CHRAG having the balls to make the right pronouncement,” he added.

    The forum was organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa on Tuesday, October 2, 2022.

     

  • CHRAJ should have declared Chief Justice, EC boss unfit for office – Manasseh Azure

    Renowned investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has berated the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for not adequately performing its mandate.

    According to him, CHRAJ, even though has been given the powers by Ghana’s Constitution to hold persons in public office accountable, it has on some occasions failed the country.

    Speaking at a Public Forum on the declaration of assets in Accra, Manasseh said that the failure of CHRAJ to declare that Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah and the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, unfit for office after it received complaints about their asset declaration, is the reason the two are in office today.

    “When we talk about leadership; we shouldn’t limit it to only political leadership. There are certain individuals in this country who are very powerful and the constitution has made them so. But they have decided to become very powerless. And they have failed the state when it matters most, one of them is CHRAJ.

    “CHRAJ has done well in some of the cases that have gone before it. But in others, CHRAJ failed the nation.

    “One of them has to do with the complaints against the Chief Justice. CHRAJ ruled that the PPA board chair cannot hold public office for 2 years because he failed to declare his assets. Similar complaints come against the Chief Justice and also the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission but CHRAJ’s rulings were very problematic.

    “I don’t think that we will be having some of these names if the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana was declared unfit to hold public office by CHRAJ,” he said.

    He intimated that should CHRAJ have ruled that the current Chief Justice is unfit for office and President Akufo-Addo chooses to ignore its ruling, the pressure on him will force him not to take the position.

    “A similar thing happened with the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and we didn’t find CHRAG having the balls to make the right pronouncement,” he added.

    The forum was organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa on Tuesday, October 2, 2022.

  • Report inhuman, degrading treatment in prisons to CHRAJ-Director

    Persons in police or prison custody can report to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for inhuman and degrading treatment.

    Apart from torture or maltreatment, persons in custody can also complain to the CHRAJ about lack of basic amenities such as lack of toilet, beds or even quality food for redress.

    According to Dr Isaac Annan, former Director of Human Rights at CHRAJ and a Consultant, Law and Governance Consult, provision of such amenities bordered on human rights of which many Ghanaians did not know about.

    He was speaking to the Ghanaian Times during a meeting on “Strengthening Ghana Police Service and Civil Society Cooperation Towards Effective Case Management and Improved


    Accountability”.

    It was organised by CHRAJ in collaboration with the German Development Organisation (GIZ).

    The overall objective of the two-day meeting aimed at enhancing police service accountability and improving cooperation between the Police Service and Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) leading to a more efficient and effective complaints management system.

    Participants, mainly Police and CSOs, were also familiarised with quantitative and qualitative data collected by CHRAJ, CSOs and the media to improve Police Professional Standard Bureau’s (PPSB) complaints handling and management system.

    Dr Annan indicated that CHRAJ would investigate any torture or maltreatment cases brought to it and ensure offending officers were dealt with for justice to prevail.

    Stressing the need for the empowerment of the average Ghanaian with knowledge about human rights, he urged the CHRAJ to go out there with such education.

    Commissioner of CHRAJ, Jospeh Whittal, earlier in a presentation, indicated “if we able to understand the bottlenecks to complaints handling against police misconducts, we would achieve a lot of progress”.

    He said CHRAJ as a constitutional body “has oversight responsibility over the Police Service”.

    Realising that sometimes there seemed to be a discord between the Police, the CSOs and the Media stemming from misunderstanding of each other’s role, he said, the purpose of the engagement was to ensure how critical accountability institutions could understand each other’s role, point out misunderstandings in order to forge democratic relations together.

    Among the topics treated were principles of good administration and accountability (internal and external), human rights-based approach to complaints management, legal and policy framework for ensuring police accountability in Ghana, roles of civil society and the media in ensuring police accountability.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Lets take a personal interest in the fight against corruption – CHRAJ

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has urged Ghanaians to take keen interest in the fight against corruption.

    He noted that the battle requires a high level of decency and intentional moral practices.

    “God did not give to us other states, rather He gave this country called Ghana, therefore, we must build this nation for ourselves to its highest core, corruption is an act against the state and the interest of generations yet unborn,” Mr Richard A. Quayson, CHRAJ Deputy Commissioner, said.

    Mr Quayson said this stated at the 16th edition of the Monthly Stakeholders seminar organized by the Ghana News Agency and aimed at providing a platform for both state and non-state organizations to address national issues to enhance development.

    Speaking on the topic: “Public Service Integrity in the fight against corruption,” Mr Quayson said people needed to understand that corruption was unacceptable in society hence educating one another through capacity-building and enhancement systems to change our societies.

    The Deputy CHRAJ Commissioner explained that integrity of the public sector or public integrity mandated public officials to use the powers and resources of the state entrusted under their care effectively, honestly, and for public purposes.

    He noted that public service integrity was essential for building strong institutions and assured citizens that the government was working in their interest, not just for the select few.

    “Integrity is not just a moral issue, it is also about making economies more productive, public sectors more efficient, societies and economies more inclusive,” Mr Quayson stated.

    He said building human capacity was the basic thing to do to avoid corruption and build a sense of public integrity in public sector workers.

    Mr Quayson said public sector integrity was introduced to help curb the issue of corruption, “helping public sector workers not to be corrupt, making it difficult to be corrupt, and then deterring them from it.”

    He then admonished stakeholders, the media, institutions, organizations, and individuals in the public offices to help report persons who engage in corrupt activities.

    Mr Francis Ameyibor, the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Manager, called for greater collaboration between the anti-corruption institutions and the media to ensure that corrupt officials were exposed.

    Other speakers include Mr Kenneth Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Delax Finance, who spoke on “navigating through the current economic crisis with or without the International Monitory Fund”; and Dr Amma Benin, Head of Paediatric Department, International Maritime Hospital (IMAH), who spoke on “addressing the health needs of children, adolescents and women, a sure way to build a healthy society”.

    Dr Joseph Swanzy, a Medical Practitioner at IMAH, also spoke on “adolescent health issues and how to address them.”

    Source: GNA

  • CHRAJ directs former PPA boss Adjenim Boateng Adjei to refund GH¢5.7m to the state

    A former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, has been directed by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to refund GH¢5.7 million to the state.

    According to a Graphic.com.gh report, the stated amount is expected to be paid into the Consolidated Fund within six months and the receipt evidencing the payment produced before the commission.

    CHRAJ indicated the commission would take the necessary action to recover the money from Mr Adjei’s known properties and assets should he fail to comply with the directive.

    Adjenim Boateng Adjei has also been banned from holding public office for not less than ten years to run concurrently with the earlier disqualification in the commission’s decision in the case of Office of the President (OOP) vrs CEO of PPA.

    “Having abused public office to illicitly enrich himself, Mr Adjenim Boateng Adjei has demonstrated that he can no longer be entrusted with public office. Consequently, the commission hereby disqualifies him from holding public office for a period not less than 10 years,” CHRAJ said.

    Adjei is to declare his assets and liabilities within three months.

    CHRAJ also disqualified the Board Chairman, Professor Douglas Boateng, and a member of the board, Dr Emmanuel Yaw Boakye, from appointment to chair or be a member of any public board, council or commission for two years and three years, respectively.

    Background

    Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei, was suspended by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo following an aired documentary titled “Contracts for Sale on August 21, 2019.

    The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, subsequently referred the allegations of conflict of interest in the documentary to CHRAJ and that of corruption and sale of contracts to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for investigations in respect of their mandates and appropriate action.

    On October 4, 2019, an investigation was conducted as a result of a complaint by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local chapter of Transparency International (TI), for Adjei and the then members of the Board of PPA and officials of Talent Discovery Ltd (TDL) to be investigated on issues of conflict of interest, corruption, illegal acquisition of assets and non-declaration of assets and liabilities, which contravened the Constitution.

    The particulars of the complaint from GII included the fact that Adjei established companies, including TDL, soon after he became the CEO of PPA and used his public office for private gain, and that the companies sub-let or sold government contracts to other contractors and suppliers, enriching himself illegally.

    The GII requested for him, together with board members who could have been involved in the deals, and officials of TDL, to be investigated so that no one benefits from the illegal wealth they might have acquired through corruption and the monies retrieved.

    Per CHRAJ findings, the report revealed unexplained wealth in various bank accounts of the former PPA CEO within two years in office, especially when he had stated himself that he was not receiving salary or income from any of the known sources.

    He had also admitted that he had not declared his assets and liabilities to enable the commission to determine what he was worth before assuming public office.

    “Mr Adjei received huge cash deposits into his Universal Merchant Bank Cedi account between August 2017 and August 2019, amounting to GH¢5,697,530 (less GH¢86,000) paid by Device Ltd) while he was holding public office as CEO of PPA.

    “The report stated that although he was given every opportunity to rebut the presumption that those assets were not illegally acquired, contrary to section 5 of Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550), he was unable to show that those amounts were reasonably attributable to income, gift, loan, inheritance or any other reasonable source and, therefore in contravention of the Constitution,” Graphic.com added.

    Meanwhile, GII has commended CHRAJ for a dispassionate and thorough work done.

    The anti-graft NGO called on the OSP and EOCO to fast-track the criminal investigation aspect of the case and hold accountable persons who would be found culpable.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Majority of Ghanaians against E-levy; listen to them Emile Short to government

    A former Commissioner on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Justice Emile Short, has called on the government to pay heed to the majority of Ghanaians’ views regarding the passage of the controversial E-levy.

    According to Mr Short, most Ghanaians have kicked against the levy’s passage and, therefore, the government must do as the people want.

    Speaking in an exclusive interview with Kofi Oppong Asamoah on the Class Morning Show on a myriad of issues on Class91.3FM, Tuesday, 8 February 2022, Mr Short insisted the government must listen to the view of Ghanaians.

    He said: “I think the majority of Ghanaians from a survey that I read are against the e-levy and it is my view that government should listen to the views and opinions and voices of the majority of Ghanaians on this issue because I think the majority of Ghanaians think that they will be adversely affected by the passing of this e-levy legislation since a lot of electronic transactions are done by quite a sizeable number of Ghanaians.

    “So I’m hoping the government will listen to the views of the majority of Ghanaians. I don’t think the views and argument the government has put forward for the e-levy have been supported by the majority of Ghanaians.”

    Touching on the ongoing e-levy debate in parliament, Mr Short described as “unfortunate” the extent of anger that led to a brawl among legislators in parliament. 

    “First, it’s unfortunate that a brawl broke out in parliament arising out of a discussion on the e-levy, and there were fisticuffs as well as invectives being thrown at each other by the two dominant political parties,” he said.

    “The expectation of the electorates from the close results of the 2020 elections where we have a hung parliament with an almost equal representation of the two dominant parties was that they will work together, they’ll collaborate and arrive at a consensus as supposed to the previous situations where one party had a dominant representation. Unfortunately, that expectation has not been fulfilled. It’s unfortunate we are seeing this animosity between the two parties about the e-levy,” he bemoaned.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Order removal, prosecution of Adom-Otchere over expensive KIA Xmas tree – CHRAJ petitioned

    Paul Adom Otchere, has been dragged by a private citizen to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for his involvement in procuring expensive Christmas tree inspirations for the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

    In a petition signed and filed by one Sacut Amenga-Etego, who is a journalist in Accra, Paul Adom-Otchere as the board chairman of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), misused public funds in the procurement of the Christmas tree inspirations at KIA.

    He said, he is of the firm belief that Adom-Otchere and GACL did not properly use the public funds adding that: “the right conduct by public office holders are key in our quest to building a prosperous nation.

    “I also hold this to be a self-evident truth, that insisting that public officers live by the rules set out to safeguard public funds and ensure fairness in accessing public resources, is the only way to make Ghana a better place for us all. It is in this spirit that I submit this petition to CHRAJ,” parts of the petition read.

    The petition further stated that Paul Adom-Otchere, who is also the host of Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV revealed on the January 7, 2022, edition of his show that, “in his capacity as the board chairman of GACL, [the company] used public funds in procuring Christmas trees for GACL.”  

    Sacut Amenga-Etego, in his petition, explained further that, “by inviting two vendors to submit quotations for the decoration, by not following the National Competitive Tendering procedures, by splitting the transactions into two to avoid the GHC100,000.00 price quotation threshold and by meddling in the procurement process, Paul Adom-Otchere has caused multiple injuries to the Public Procurement Act, Act 663 and the Public Financial Management Act, and also breached the principles of corporate governance.”

    Therefore, the petitioner is seeking that CHRAJ declares that “Paul Adom-Otchere has breached several provisions of the Public Procurement Law, the Public Financial Administration Law, and the principles of corporate governance in the case of the procurement of Christmas trees for GACL in December 2021.

    “An order for GACL to surcharge the perpetrator of the breaches i.e. Paul Adom-Otchere for the amounts involved in the breaches and recommend his removal as board chairman of the company.

    “A referral of the case by CHRAJ to the appropriate prosecutorial authorities and recommend prosecution of Paul Adom-Otchere.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Akoto Ampaw and Co disappointed NCCE, CHRAJ silent on anti-LGBTQ+ Bill

    The Concerned Citizens Against the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, a bloc of 18 human rights defenders and academicians have expressed disappointment at the silence of mandated state institutions amid the debate on the ‘Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021.’

    The Bill christened the anti-gay Bill is currently before Parliament as lawmakers resumed sitting last Tuesday.

    At a press conference held on Wednesday, October 27, in Accra, the leader of the group; lawyer Akoto Ampaw mentioned two specific constitutional bodies his group expected to have spoken on the matter.

    The two were: the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, CHRAJ, and the National Commission for Civic Education, NCCE.

    “We have observed with dismay the loud silence of state institutions that are constitutionally mandated to promote human rights, democratic citizenship, free speech and responsible media, such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and the National Commission for Civic Education.

    “We call on these institutions and individuals to do the right and proper thing by condemning such anti-democratic and illegal practices. We also call on the IGP to invite for questioning all those who have issued threats against members of the LGBTQ community,” he added.

    He also challenged chiefs and traditional leaders who have been reported in the media as threatening to banish LGBTQ+ persons living under their jurisdiction, he said they have no such rights under the Constitutional democracy Ghana, a secular nation, was practising.

    “[There are] Media reports that some traditional rulers have threatened to kill anyone caught in so-called gayism, banish them from their traditional areas or perform ritual rights against them.

    “We want to emphasize that Ghana is a democratic secular republic and our chiefs, revered as they are, do not have any legitimate and constitutionally recognized power to expel anyone from their traditional area or to restrict the liberty and freedom of movement of persons,” he added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Assets declaration: CHRAJ clears Justice Pwamang, dismisses ASEPA claim

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has dismissed as “unsubstantiated”, a complaint filed by civil society group Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) against Mr Gabriel Pwamang, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, in which the group alleged that the judge “failed to make a declaration of his assets and liabilities as required of him” by the 1992 Constitution.

    ASEPA filed the complaint in June 2020 and requested the Commission to investigate a number of judges of the Superior Courts of Ghana, including Justice Pwamang, for breaches of Article 287 of the Constitution and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550).

    The pressure group claimed the judges failed to file the declaration with the Auditor-General.

    In the case of Justice Pwamang, CHRAJ said it carried out investigations into the complaint in line with its processes and procedures, and it established that “upon his appointment to the Supreme Court on 30 June 2015, the judge “made his first declaration of assets and liabilities on 18 November 2015 and then a second declaration was made after four years, as required by the Constitution and Act 550”.

    According to the CHRAJ report, “the investigations, however, revealed that the Office of the Auditor-General, in March 2020, suspended the collection of Assets Declaration Forms from public servants on account of the COVID-19 pandemic and this affected the time of the filing of the second declaration, which was otherwise made within the time frame of the law”.

    Consequently, by its decision dated 15 February 2021, and signed by Mr Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, the Commission “dismissed the complaint against Justice Gabriel Pwamang as unsubstantiated”.

    Source: Class FM

  • ASEPA drags Akufo-Addo to CHRAJ for allegedly collecting $40k bribe

    The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) has dragged President Akufo-Addo to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for collecting a $40,000 a bribe.

    According to a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mensah Thompson, he claims the President took the money to influence his decision not to fire the Director of Urban Roads.

    “In a video documentary which is attached and labelled as exhibit 1, the President is seen collecting a bribe of $40,000 from individuals believed to be related to the (Director of Urban Roads) who had visited him at his private residence at Nima.

    “The purpose of this meeting was to influence the President in his decision on calls by his party members to sack the Director of Urban Roads.”

    However, Mr Thompson alleges that after taking the money from the spouse of the Director, her husband continued to remain in office till date despite several calls for his removal from office.

    Among other things, ASEPA is asking CHRAJ to investigate the circumstances leading to the bribery of the President at his private residence in Accra

    ASEPA also wants CHRAJ to carry a forensic audit on President Akufo-Addo personal bank accounts to ascertain the flow of funds into his personal accounts.

    The Alliance wants the Commission to find out the sources of the funds to establish whether there is link between the funds and the award of any government contract or the appointment of any public official.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Pursue your rights – CHRAJ

    Dr. Isaac Annan, Director, Human Rights Department of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has encouraged the citizenry to know and pursue their rights.

    “Learn your rights because if you do not know your rights, you cannot claim them, therefore, know your rights and pursue them,” he said.

    Dr. Annan said this at a day’s COVID-19 anti-stigma and discrimination training programme in Accra.

    It was organised by CHRAJ for religious and traditional leaders towards minimising stigmatisation against persons infected with COVID-19.

    Dr. Annan noted that though the rights of individuals were fully enshrined in the country’s constitution, people often got abused because they did not know of their rights and asked them to seek help from the Commission.

    He observed that people who were often abused belonged to marginalised groups, including people living in extremely poor communities, and urged them to turn CHRAJ when in doubt.

    Dr. Annan said CHRAJ was established to promote human rights and asked the citizenry to enjoy those services at no cost.

    Source: GNA

  • ASEPA’s petition to remove EC boss thrown out as CJ makes no adverse findings

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has dismissed a petition to remove the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensa following a determination of no adverse evidence of a legal breach by the EC boss.

    Civil society organisation, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), led by its Executive Secretary, Mensah Thompson petitioned the President to remove Mrs Jean Mensa from office on the grounds that she failed to declare her assets on time on assumption of office in 2018.

    After the Presidency forwarded the petition to the Chief Justice for action, the Chief Justice did not establish any adverse evidence of a legal breach against the EC boss.

    The Chief Justice did not also find any statute that criminalises the non-declaration of assets within the stipulated time in the Constitution.

    Following this, the Presidency subsequently dismissed the petition.

    Earlier petition to CHRAJ

    ASEPA had earlier on December 12, 2019, filed a similar complaint at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) that Mrs Mensa failed or refused to declare her assets.

    CHRAJ ruled in favour of the Chairperson of the EC.

    In its decision on June 4, 2020, CHRAJ held that at the time the complaint was filed on December 12, 2019, the EC boss had not filed her assets with the Auditor-General, but she filed her assets on February 17, 2020, after the complaint was brought to her attention.

    Such a move, CHRAJ held, meant the EC boss had not refused to declare her assets as required by Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution.

    ASEPA petitions President

    Not satisfied with the ruling by CHRAJ, ASEPA in a letter dated June 9, 2020 petitioned the President to remove the EC boss for failing to declare her assets on time.

    ASEPA argued that Mrs Mensa failed to declare her assets “within three months as stipulated by Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, although she became the Chairperson of the EC on January 8, 2018.”

    Chief Justice’s conclusions and dismissal of petition

    In a letter dated July 27, 2020 and signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, the Presidency explained that the petition was forwarded to the Chief Justice for action but the Chief Justice did not establish any adverse evidence of a legal breach against the EC boss.

    “The Chief Justice did not find any statute that criminalises the non-declaration of assets within the stipulated time in the Constitution,” the letter from the presidency explained.

    “In any event, CHRAJ did not make any adverse findings against the Chairperson as the investigation was terminated and the complaint dismissed after the Chairperson declared her assets on 17th February 2020,” the letter added.

    “Accordingly, I am directed by the President to inform you [ASEPA] that your petition has been dismissed,” it said.

    What CHRAJ said

    According to CHRAJ, having established that Mrs Mensa had complied with Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, it was not necessary to continue with investigations into the complaint by ASEPA.

    That, CHRAJ said, was in line with Section 13 (1)(b) of the CHRAJ Act, 1993 (Act 456) which allowed the commission to refuse to continue to investigate a matter when it appeared that further investigation was not needed.

    “Having established in the course of the investigation that the respondent (EC boss) has now complied with Article 286 albeit late , the commission is of the considered opinion that the appropriate action, having regard to the circumstances of the case, is to refuse to investigate the matter any further as further investigation will not be necessary,” the decision signed by the Commissioner for CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, stated.

    File your assets early

    CHRAJ, however, advised Mrs Mensa not to delay in declaring her assets with the Auditor-General in the future.

    “Based on the results of the investigations, the commission strongly advises the respondent (Mrs Mensa) to pay careful attention to her obligations under Article 286 to ensure that the delay that occurred previously in the declaration of her assets and liabilities does not occur,” CHRAJ said.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • CHRAJ discontinues investigations into EC boss’ asset declaration complaint

    The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has ruled in favour of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensa, over a complaint that she refused to declare her assets as required by law.

    In its decision on June 4, 2020, CHRAJ held that at the time the complaint was filed on December 12, 2019, the EC boss had not filed her assets with the Auditor-General, but she filed her assets on February 17, 2020, after the complaint was brought to her attention.

    Such a move, CHRAJ held, meant the EC boss had not refused to declare her assets as required by Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution.

    According to the commission, having established that Mrs Mensa had complied with Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, it was not necessary to continue with investigations into the complaint by the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA).

    That, CHRAJ said, was in line with Section 13 (1)(b) of the CHRAJ Act, 1993 (Act 456) which allowed the commission to refuse to continue to investigate a matter when it appeared that further investigation was not needed.

    “Having established in the course of the investigation that the respondent (EC boss) has  now complied with Article 286 albeit late , the commission is of the considered opinion that the appropriate action , having regard to the circumstances of the case, is to refuse to investigate the matter any further as further investigation will not be necessary,” the decision signed by the Commissioner for CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, stated.

    File your assets early

    CHRAJ, however, advised Mrs Mensa not to delay in declaring her assets with the Auditor-General in the future.

    “Based on the results of the investigations, the commission strongly advises the respondent (Mrs Mensa) to pay careful attention to her obligations under Article 286 to ensure that the delay that occurred previously in the declaration of her assets and liabilities does not occur,” CHRAJ said.

    Complaint

    On December 12, 2019, ASEPA, filed a complaint with a case that Mrs Mensa had failed or refused to declare her assets within three months as stipulated by Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, although she became the Chairperson of the EC on January 8, 2018.

    CHRAJ, after receiving the complaint, wrote to the Auditor-General on December 17, 2019, to ascertain whether or not the EC Chairperson had filed her assets as required by law.

    On December 30, 2019, the Auditor-General replied CHRAJ, and stated that Mrs Mensa had not submitted to the Auditor-General a declaration of her assets.

    Based on the response from the Auditor -General, CHRAJ established that the complainant had satisfied a basis for the commission to investigate the matter.

    Response

    The commission, therefore, forwarded a copy of the complaint to the EC boss to respond to the allegations levelled against her in line with the rules of natural justice.

    In her response submitted to CHRAJ on May 12, 2020, Mrs Mensa informed CHRAJ that she had filed her assets and liabilities with the Auditor -General as required by law.

    “She attached a copy of the official receipt dated February 17, 2020 from the office of the Auditor-General as evidence that she has submitted her assets declaration form,” CHRAJ stated in its decision. — #GhanaVotes2020

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Asset Declaration: Jean Mensa cleared; EC Boss took necessary steps to declare assets CHRAJ report

    Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Jean Mensa has been cleared by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice over allegations of her failure to declare her assets and liabilities upon assumption of office as EC Chair.

    According to a report by the Commission, the EC Chair did take the necessary steps to declare her assets, although later than expected.

    Based on this, no further investigations will be conducted into the matter, the report by CHRAJ, signed by Joseph Whittal summarises.

    “Having established in the course of the investigation that the Respondent has now complied with Article 286, albeit late, the Commission is of the considered view that the appropriate action, having regard to the circumstances of the case, is to refuse to investigate the matter any further as further investigation would not be necessary”.

    CHRAJ began preliminary investigations into the claim that the EC Chair had failed to declare her assets after pressure group, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) petitioned it to investigate the matter and mete out the necessary sanctions if necessary.

    But CHRAJ in its report after preliminary investigations into the issue have cleared the EC Chair, putting to rest the issue of asset declaration in relation to Madam Jean Mensa.

    Source: abcnewsgh.com

  • Stigmatisation is an abuse of rights – CHRAJ

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has said stigmatisation against persons, families and communities with cases of Covid-19 was an abuse of human rights.

    According to Mr Kwadjo Boahen Darkwa, the Assin Central Municipal Director of the Commission, the 1992 constitution of the Republic abhors all forms of discrimination be it gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economics.

    He was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Assin Fosu on the sidelines of an intensified anti-stigmatization campaign in the Assin Central Municipality last Wednesday.

    Mr Darkwa said stigmatising victims of the COVID-19 and their families was an impediment to efforts to stop the spread of the pandemic.

    He said there was the need for Ghanaians to know the real facts about the disease to put them in a position to decipher fake news from the authentic ones being thrown at them on both social and some traditional media outlets.

    “People who tested positive for the disease who had eventually been declared negative had gone through a lot of ordeals and needed to be shown love instead of being shunned by members of their communities”.

    He said stigmatization should not be given a place in the fight against COVID-19 because contracting the disease was not a disgrace or a death sentence, adding that, affected persons have a high chance of recovery if cases were reported early.

    The Municipal Director of the Commission said: “we only have to stay safe rather than stigmatising people.”

    “We do not have to point fingers at COVID-19 patients or call them names related to the pandemic because it will affect them psychologically but embrace them in our communities”.

    He said, “When a COVID-19 patient feels stigmatised, he or she may not open up for management and treatment, and by so doing spread the virus gradually within communities, which could cause havoc for us as a nation”.

    Mr Darkwa, therefore, advised the citizenry to stop the stigma and help facilitate the integration of recovered people and fight against the virus.

    Source: GNA

  • CHRAJ dismisses ASEPAs declaration of assets petition against Chief Justice

    A petition filed by Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), against the Chief Justice (CJ) on the declaration of assets and liabilities has been dismissed by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

    Mensah Thompson believes Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah since his assumption of the role as an Appeals court judge in 2008 and a judge of the Supreme Court left his assets undeclared contrary to the dictates of the Constitution.

    Following preliminary investigations, CHRAJ found “as a fact that the respondent has complied with Article 286 of the constitution by declaring his assets and liabilities to the Auditor-General.”

    But the Commission also took into account the fact that Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah had “declared his assets and liabilities at the time the allegations were made and having satisfied the conditions for holding that office then, all be it a late submission, what should be the appropriate action that the commissioner should take in respect of the results of the investigation?”

    CHRAJ, therefore, dismissed the complaint “as overtaking, unsubstantiated, and not made out” on the basis that Justice Anin Yeboah has “complied with Article 286, the appropriate action in the circumstances.”

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • CHRAJ throws out ‘declaration of assets’ petition against Chief Justice Anin Yeboah

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has dismissed the petition a private citizen, Mensah Thompson filed against the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah on the declaration of assets and liabilities.

    Mr Mensah Thompson, who is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) had argued that Justice Anin Yeboah did not declare his assets and liabilities as required by law when he became a Court of Appeal judge and subsequently a judge on the Supreme Court bench.

    His complaint to CHRAJ was that Parliamentary approval of Justice Anin Yeboah as the Chief Justice prior to his vetting and approval by Parliament would have gone contrary to Article 286 of the 1992 constitution because he did not disclose his assets and liabilities as required by the 1992 constitution.

    He argued that Justice Anin Yeboah had been a Justice of the Court of Appeal since 2008 and was required under the constitution of Ghana, to have declared his assets and liabilities but contended he did not do so.

    But CHRAJ after investigating the matter in its report said the following:

    Findings

    At the end of the preliminary investigations the commission finds as a fact that the respondent has complied with Article 286 of the constitution by declaring his assets and liabilities to the Auditor-General.

    Decision

    Having found out that the respondent had declared his assets and liabilities at the time the allegations were made and having satisfied the conditions for holding that office then, all be it a late submission, what should be the appropriate action that the commissioner should take in respect of the results of the investigation?

    The commission is of the considered view that having found that the respondent has complied with Article 286, the appropriate action in the circumstances would be to dismiss the complaint as overtaking, unsubstantiated, and not made out. The complaint is accordingly dismissed.

    We must add however that the commission recognises that the schedule of a Justice of a Supreme Court and other high-ranking public officials can be very demanding and could sometimes accession lapses in some areas of their work. However, that is not to excuse a person indefinitely from his or her duty under the law.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • CHRAJ dismisses ASEPAs petition against CJ

    The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has dismissed the petition brought against Chief Justice, Anin-Yeboah by Mr Mensah Thompson the Executive Director for the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA).

    Mr Thompson in his complaint filed at CHRAJ said Parliamentary approval of Justice Anin Yeboah will go contrary to article 286 of the 1992 constitution because he had refused to disclose his assets and liabilities as required by the 1992 constitution.

    But CHRAJ after investigating the matter in its report said the following:

    Findings

    At the end of the preliminary investigations the commission finds as a fact that the respondent has complied with article 286 of the constitution by declaring his assets and liabilities to the auditor general.

    Decision

    Having found out that the respondent had declared his assets and liabilities at the time the allegations were made and having satisfied the conditions for holding that office then, all be it a late submission, what should be the appropriate action that the commissioner should take in respect of the results of the investigation?

    The commission is of the considered view that having found that the respondent has complied with article 286, the appropriate action in the circumstances would be to dismiss the compliant as overtaking, unsubstantiated and not made out. The compliant is accordingly dismissed.

    We must add however that the commission recognises that the schedule of a Justice of a Supreme Court and other high-ranking public officials can be very demanding and could sometimes accession lapses in some areas of their work. However, that is not to excuse a person indefinitely from his or her duty under the law.

     

    Source: Class FM

  • Coronavirus: Akufo-Addo must call NIA, EC to order – CHRAJ

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) wants President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to call the National Identification Authority (NIA) to order following its continuance of the mass Ghana Card registration exercise in the Eastern Region in the face of the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana.

    CHRAJ similarly wants the President or the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 to advise the EC on the potential public health risk and safety associated with the planned Voters’ Registration.

    A press statement signed by the Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, said the body was worried that in spite of the President’s directives on social gatherings and the existing WHO precautionary measures aimed at containment and combating COVID-19, the NIA is relentlessly embarking on a registration exercise in the Eastern Region.

    “…the Commission is of the considered view that the President or the Inter-Ministerial Committee calls the NIA to order by suspending forthwith its ongoing registration exercise in the Eastern Region until the COVID-9 pandemic normalises,” the statement said.

    “In the same vein, the Commission calls on the President or the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 to advise the EC on the potential public health risk and safety associated with the planned Voters’ Registration due to the danger or threat that any mass gathering arising from such an exercise can pose to the health and life of the people”.

    The statement further stressed that the EC’s “posture and intransigence” would undermine WHO protocols/benchmarks on COVID-19 and violate the Constitution of Ghana.

    NIA

    Acknowledging the recent mitigating measures taken by the Government aimed at containment and combating COVID-19, the Commission said it was worried that the National Identification Authority (NIA) is carrying out a registration exercise in the Eastern Region.

    “The Commission is however worried that in spite of the President’s directives and the existing WHO precautionary measures aimed at containment and combating COVID-19, the National Identification Authority (NIA) is relentlessly embarking on a registration exercise in the Eastern Region,” the statement said.

    “This has been exacerbated by reports in the media that the registration officials are poorly equipped with hand sanitisers, gloves and nose masks”.

    The statement added that the NIA’s action is a clear violation of the right to health and ultimately the right to life as stipulated under Articles 34(2), 13(1) and 33(5) of the 1992 Constitution (Constitution) respectively, which are premised on Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Articles 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

    EC

    The EC statement further explained that the EC’s posture and intransigence would undermine the World Health Organization’s (WHO) protocols/benchmarks on COVID-19, urging the President or the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 to advise the EC on the potential public health risk associated with the planned Voters’ Registration.

    “Concerning the Electoral Commission (EC), the Commission’s attention has been drawn to a Press Statement dated 17th march, 2020 issued by Sylvia Annoh (Mrs), EC’s posture and intransigence would undermine WHO protocols/benchmarks on COVID-19 and capable of violating the above mentioned provisions of the Constitution, international and regional human rights instruments and the SDGs for which Ghana is a State Party and a signatory,” the statement said.

    “In the same vein, the Commission calls on the President or the Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 to advise the EC on the potential public health risk and safety associated with the planned Voters’ Registration due to the danger or threat that any mass gathering arising from such an exercise can pose to the health and life of the people.

    “The Commission further recommends that Government as a matter of urgency provide protective gear and equipment to all hospitals and health facilities both private and public and to all health professionals directly handling Covid-19 suspected cases to mitigate the looming contagion in the protection of the rights to health and life of these professionals who are exposed to serious risks of contracting the deadly virus in the line of duty on a daily basis”.

    Read the entire statement below;

     
    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • CHRAJ records more human rights abuses in Central Region

    The Central Regional office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) last year recorded a total of 667 human rights infractions as compared with the 660 cases recorded in 2018.

    Of a total of 824 cases received for various rights infractions, administrative justice and anti-corruption, 577 were closed while 125 are pending.

    One hundred and two of the cases were from the previous year (2018).

    Mr Theophilus Tetteh Tuwor, the Regional Director of the Commission made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Cape Coast on Monday.

    Among the rights infractions, child rights related cases including non-maintenance, right to education, name and access as well as custody was the highest with 334 reported cases.

    This was followed by property rights related issues of destruction of property, retrieval, truancy, share of property and inheritance with 101 recorded cases, while breach of agreement, non-payment of salary, SSNIT and right to work registered 117 cases.

    Women rights related cases such as non-maintenance, non-performance of customary rights and denial of paternal responsibility recorded 81, while civil and political issues relating to the right to bury, respect and dignity registered 32 cases.

    Touching on the performance of the districts in the 12 administrative districts of CHRAJ in the Region, Mr Tuwor mentioned the highest recorded districts to include Agona Swedru, Winneba, Cape Coast, Dunkwa-on-Offin, Saltpond and Abura-Dunkwa.

    Ajumako, Breman-Asikuma, Apam, Assin Fosu, Elmina and Twifo Praso were among the districts with least recorded cases.

    However, the only anti-corruption case recorded in the Region came from Assin-Fosu with the Cape Coast Metropolitan Area having the most reported cases of administrative justice, which was 13.

    The Regional Director of CHRAJ called on parents, family members and community leaders to report cases of sexual abuse of children to expose perpetrators, adding that CHRAJ was ready to offer protection to citizens who reported crimes to avoid victimisation.

    The Commission, he said scaled-up public education programmes at the community level, schools, groups and institutions on how they could demand accountability from public officers.

    Such engagements, he said, offered the citizenry the opportunity to learn basic human rights and allowed those who ordinarily would not have the opportunity to access legal services to also report and pursue corruption related cases.

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Western Region CHRAJ calls for government support

    Madam Afua Yankson, Western Regional Deputy Chief Investigator of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has expressed concern about the lack of office space, especially for one-on-one engagements with clients.

    She further indicated that inadequate funding to deliver its mandate on public sensitization and limited means of transport to carry out investigations coupled with the distance barrier to reach clients for follow-ups and investigations also continue to hamper their operations.

    Read: Help tackle public sector corruption Akufo-Addo tells New Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ

    Madam Yankson who expressed the sentiments in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Takoradi, noted that the challenges confronting the Commission pose a great disservice to the Commission in its operations.

    She in this regard appealed to the government to provide logistics and increase funding for the region to administer its mandates more effectively and efficiently.

    According to her, human rights violation cases such as children rights cases, property rights, women rights, economic and social rights, civil and political rights are the predominant cases that are brought before the Commission.

    She explained that the Commission was established under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana by the CHRAJ Act, 1993 (Act 456) with a three (3) broad mandates of human rights, administrative justice and anti-corruption.

    She said, CHRAJ was the National Human Rights Institution of Ghana, the ombudsman of Ghana, and an Anti-Corruption Agency & Ethics Office for the Public Service of Ghana.

    Read: Enough of fornication sermons, target corruption too CHRAJ boss to Clergy

    Madam Hanson hinted that the Commission last year recorded more human rights violation cases against the previous year and that no case on Administrative Justice and corruption was recorded.

    The Deputy Chief Investigator mentioned the loss of interest to pursue cases by complainants, lack of accurate address to trace perpetrators and inaccurate contacts to reach both complainants and perpetrators for follow-ups as some challenges they also face in handling cases.

    She urged the public to embrace education on human rights to reduce violation against others and corruption so as to improve upon the quality of life.

     

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Help tackle public sector corruption Akufo-Addo tells New Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ

    President Akufo-Addo has charged the newly sworn-in Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mercy Larbi, to work hard to tackle public sector corruption.

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) was established by the 1992 Constitution to protect fundamental human rights and ensure good governance.

    Read:Enough of fornication sermons, target corruption too CHRAJ boss to Clergy

    At a brief ceremony at the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo said corruption has become the source of endless discussions in the public space and it has to be dealt with head-on.

    Deputy Commissioner, Mercy Larbi, was grateful for the opportunity to serve her country.

    Source: gbcghanaonline.com

  • Court throws out CHRAJs contempt case against Freddie Blay

    The Accra High Court has acquitted and discharged the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Freddie Blay of the contempt charges brought against him by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

    According to the court, CHRAJ failed to provide any substantial evidence of serving Mr. Blay with any letters or subpoena asking him to appear before CHRAJ.

    Dismissed whistleblower petitions CHRAJ over alleged corrupt practices at MMT

    The court presided over by Mr George Koomson said unless the officers of CHRAJ were being mischievous, no rational person will act in such a manner.

    The court also further questioned why attempts were not made to serve the NPP chairman at his office at the GNPC.

    CHRAJ filed contempt charges against Mr Blay claiming that he had been evading receipt of summons which was seeking his response to allegations that he procured 275 buses for his party through corruption.

    In the motion on notice for the contempt proceedings filed at the Accra High Court, CHRAJ prayed the court for an order to commit Mr Blay into prison custody for disobeying its lawful requests.

    CHRAJ shocked over Obuasi prison conditions

    According to the motion, on July 6, 2018, CHRAJ received a complaint from the Coalition of Social Justice, requesting the Commission to investigate Mr Blay for corruption in respect of his role in the purchase of 275 buses for the 275 constituencies of the governing political party, the NPP.

    After assessing the complaint, the commission concluded that it had the mandate to investigate and, therefore, commenced investigations.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh