CHRAJ launches 12th anniversary celebrations

Accra, Oct. 10, GNA - The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Monday identified lack of financial autonomy and inadequate resources from the State as major factors militating against its smooth operations. It said the uncompetitive condition of service for its legal officers and investigators, which had resulted in high rate of staff attrition, was another hurdle the Commission was battling with.

Ms Anna Bossman, Acting Commissioner, CHRAJ, said this at the launch of the Commission's 12th anniversary celebrations, noting that the Commission also faced external challenges in a global environment where increasing inequality and injustice bred violence, despair and poverty. She said as a result of terrorism and more violence, a number of governments had resorted to protective measures of national security, which in turn often tended to violate the human rights of its citizens and non-citizens.

However, the Acting Commissioner said, in spite of these challenges, CHRAJ had contributed immensely towards the promotion of human rights earning it respect locally and internationally. Commenting on achievements of CHRAJ, Ms Bossman indicated that from its inception in July 1993 to December 2003, the Commission received more than 78,531 petitions and successfully resolved 64,024.

From 2002 to date, the Commission receives an average of 10,000 complaints annually the bulk of which are family related issues with non-maintenance of children and spousal neglect as the lead issues. However, a good number of labour-related issues have been received by CHRAJ, which it intended to refer to the new established Labour Commission where appropriate. The anniversary would be on the theme: "Developing a Vibrant Human Rights Culture as a Framework for National Development". It would involve joint exhibition with human rights nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), radio discussions, symposia, seminars and a national quiz competition.

Ms Bossman said the focus of the celebrations would be on economic, social and cultural rights promotion, with emphasis on the rights to health care and education. She noted that visits would be made to public and private hospitals to monitor how the Patient Charter was being respected. The Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) would also be vigorously monitored to ensure that all children in Ghana benefited under the programme. Mrs Chris Dadzie, Director of Public Education, CHRAJ, who chaired the launch, said the celebrations would be used to take stock of activities of the Commission to help to improve on its services.