Appoint an ‘outsider’ as CHRAJ Commissioner – Short

A former boss of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Justice Emile Short has counseled President John Mahama to look outside the anti-graft body for a substantive commissioner.

CHRAJ is currently without a commissioner following the dismissal of Madam Lauretta Vivian Lamptey from office over impropriety.

Her removal was based on the recommendations of a committee set up by the Chief Justice to investigate the conduct of the commissioner for misappropriating public funds.

Short asserts it will take a personality outside the Commission to restore its tainted image.

“Somebody who will have the moral courage to pursue the triple mandate of CHRAJ without fear or favour. It is extremely important that we get someone of some stature who can restore the lost confidence CHRAJ has suffered.

“I think somebody has to come from outside CHRAJ itself and we need to get someone outside the institution who has the integrity and an independent minded person who would not be influenced by anybody in authority,” Short told Accra-based Joy FM.

In January, 2015 the Commissioner was suspended by Mahama following the establishment of a prima facie case against her by the Chief Justice.

This was after Richard Nyamah and Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyir Anoh Dompreh petitioned the President to initiate processes to remove the CHRAJ boss for spending about $180,000 on rent.

She was alleged to have spent about GHC182,000 to renovate her official residence.

CHRAJ is currently being run by an acting Commissioner Richard A. Quayson.