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General News of Friday, 26 February 1999

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CHRAJ Needs Legislative Powers To Fight Corruption

Accra, (Greater Accra) 25 Feb. '99,

The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) yesterday called for an amendment of its enabling statute to specifically give it powers of seizure and prosecution to fight corruption in the society. Dr Kenneth Attafuah, Chief Investigator of CHRAJ, made the call when he spoke on "Corruption and the Challenges of National Development" at a Garden Discussion with media practitioners in Accra. The "Media and Society" programme, organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), aims at stimulating discussions on a wide array of issues of national importance. Thursday's encounter focused on "corruption as a cancer in the quest for socio-economic development, good governance and political stability". Dr Attafua identified corruption as constituting a violation of individual's economic and social life. The socio-economic costs of corruption, he noted, is enormous because it fosters public loss of confidence in systems and institutions, distorts reality, nourishes mediocrity and undermines the merit system of rewards, appointments and entitlements. He regretted, however, that CHRAJ lacks powers of seizure and prosecution even where there is clear evidence of corruption. "CHRAJ is currently loaded with the functions of both an Ombudsman and a Human Rights Commission and, as a result, cannot effectively carry its anti-corruption mandate." Dr Attafua called for a "real governmental readiness and leadership to grapple with the problem", saying: "government must live by example and commit adequate resources to the CHRAJ to investigate corruption, educate the public against corruption and to prosecute corruption cases". He also called for a well resourced special anti-corruption unit within the CHRAJ to enable it to perform its constitutional and statutory duties of preventing and investigating corruption." Dr Attafua cited the cases of Hong Kong and Botswana where corruption once ruled supreme but they were able to effectively bring it under control, adding: "perhaps what succeeded there could be helpful elsewhere". "While acknowledging our diverse socio-cultural traditions, we at the CHRAJ believe that the experiences of these two countries can provide us with the vital inspiration and critical insights necessary to fashioning our own system of national integrity and anti-corruption strategies." Dr Attafuah called for "living wages" for workers to insulate them against corruption. Dr George A. Apenteng, Executive Director of IEA, in his welcoming address, said the Garden Discussion will be done once every month to treat topics on various issues that will lead to the development of the nation. Miss Margaret Insaidoo, lecturer at Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana, Legon, urged journalists to wage a relentless war on corruption. She said the role of the media cannot be downplayed in the fight against corruption and other social vices. GRi