GII calls for appointment of second deputy commissioner for CHRAJ

Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) on Tuesday expressed concern about the delay by the President in appointing a Second Deputy Commissioner for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

It said in line with the Constitution, an appointment must be made to replace Ms. Anna Bossman, who resigned about eight months ago.

A statement issued in Accra by Mr Vitus A. Azeem, Executive Director of GII, said: “GII has been forced to express its concern over the issue because of the importance of the work of the Commission to the nation in various areas, not the least the Commission’s mandate to deal with matters of corruption.

“The Constitution provides for a Commissioner and two Deputy Commissioners for the Commission to carry out its three-fold mandate.“

It said both the Constitution and the Act clearly vested the appointment of both the Commissioner and the two Deputy Commissioners in the President stating that, “The President shall, acting in consultation with the Council of State, appoint the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioners.”

The statement said there was no doubt that the absence of the full complement of Commissioners must be hampering the effective and efficient operations of CHRAJ.

“GII, therefore, respectfully calls on President Mills to honour his constitutional responsibility by appointing the second Deputy Commissioner for CHRAJ as soon as possible,” it added.**