CHRAJ is being too slow on SADA – MP suggests

The Member of Parliament for Effutu in the Central Region has criticized the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for what he says is the slow pace of investigations into the operations of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).

CHRAJ last month initiated preliminary investigations into operations of SADA following public outcry over an amount of 15 million Ghana cedis spent on a guinea fowl project.

Mr. Afenyo Markin told Joy News’ parliamentary correspondent, Elton John Brobbey, CHRAJ’s delay with the investigations has raised a lot of concerns.

Since nothing has been heard about the investigations, he said, this gives a high indication that CHRAJ is not giving “serious” attention to the project.

He also wondered if investigations have actually begun, and cautioned CHRAJ against “sitting in [their] office” and “doing quiet investigations”.

According to him, everything has to be done publicly if CHRAJ wants the public to have confidence in their investigations and findings.

But Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Joseph Whittal told Joy News, his outfit “is well focused on this investigation”.

He disclosed that CHRAJ is currently doing its “preliminary investigations” based on the regulations guiding their operations, but assured that everything is being done “painstakingly”.

Mr Whittal was emphatic the Commission will not “play politics with our answers to the Ghanaian public” and would only go public after investigations into SADA have been concluded.

However, he was confident “very soon” the complete findings of the Commission and “not half complete job” would be made publicly but would not put any time frame.

Nevertheless, he indicated that if CHRAJ is being perceived as slow, nothing prevents any institution such as parliament to initiate its own investigations if it is within its mandate.