Okudzeto gives Akufo-Addo 3-Weeks to Appoint a Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ

Honorable Member of Parliament (MP) for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has urged President Nana Akufo-Addo Dankwa to immediately appoint a deputy head for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

According to the MP, the position of the deputy Commissioner being vacant for four years, shows little commitment by the president to combat corruption in the country.

“It has been more than three years without the full complement of Commissioners at the commission on Human Rights and Administrative (CHRAJ)

“This development reflects poorly on the Akufo-Addo Administration which promised to strengthen anti-graft institutions, particularly, the ombudsman in fight against corruption”

He explained that it is the constitutional mandate of the President to see to the appointment of two deputy Commissioners according to CHRAJ Act, 1993 (ACT 456).

He noted that, the current government despite being noted for “creating new positions” has ignored the CHRAJ, which is “unpardonable”.

“For a Government that has become infamous for being the largest in the history and for creating new positions …it must be unpardonable for the CHRAJ law to be treated with such utter disdain”.

He added that, coupled with the frustrations of the under-staffed Office of the Special Prosecutor, “this presents another sad commentary about the fight against corruption under President Akufo-Addo which many including prominent members of the diplomatic corps have described as a sham”

He therefore warned that, if the president fails to fill the Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ vacancy by close of January, 2020, he will explore all available avenues to force him to comply.

“I hereby serve notice that if H.E Nana Akufo Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo fails to fill Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ vacancy by close of this month (January, 2020) and thus continue with the flagrant dereliction of his legal obligations, I shall explore every available constitutional avenue to compel him to abide by Act 456”.

Source: Jonas Danquah || ghananewsonline.com.gh