Lauretta is confident because she knows nothing will come out this investigation. I would not be surprised if Mahama appoints her as one of the advisers at the Flagstaff house. It is all about job for the boys and girls! What ... read full comment
Lauretta is confident because she knows nothing will come out this investigation. I would not be surprised if Mahama appoints her as one of the advisers at the Flagstaff house. It is all about job for the boys and girls! What a shame!
Doreen Mensah 9 years ago
He is truly an airhead
He is truly an airhead
Kwadwo 9 years ago
Her vanity is beyond belief. Was she not the same woman who wanted to continue her board position when she was appointed CHRAG commissioner? She unethical and too vain.
Her vanity is beyond belief. Was she not the same woman who wanted to continue her board position when she was appointed CHRAG commissioner? She unethical and too vain.
Mawusi 9 years ago
I don't blame this woman. I blame those who appointed him. What sort of vetting did she get before she was placed there?
I don't blame this woman. I blame those who appointed him. What sort of vetting did she get before she was placed there?
Koo Nimo 9 years ago
Could somebody tell me which government employee are entitled to domestic servants, watchman, garden boy and driver.How many of such people are on government pay roll
Could somebody tell me which government employee are entitled to domestic servants, watchman, garden boy and driver.How many of such people are on government pay roll
LONTO-BOY 9 years ago
MASSA KOFI, I respect your opinion piece and criticism of the suspended CHRAJ Boss, Ms Lauretta Lamptey. Yes, she still can't see that she ever did anything wrong, or sounds like someone who doesn't "get it", because she has ... read full comment
MASSA KOFI, I respect your opinion piece and criticism of the suspended CHRAJ Boss, Ms Lauretta Lamptey. Yes, she still can't see that she ever did anything wrong, or sounds like someone who doesn't "get it", because she has simply adopted the line that the system is to be blamed, and arguably entitled to be housed by the Government regardless of the costs of renting the AU Villa and refurbishment of her official accommodation. And, of course, she cannot take full responsibility for decisions made for her.
MASSA KOFI, am no apologist for unhelpful attitude and behaviour with regard to her responses. Personally, I think Ms Lauretta Lamptey is a disappointing individual because one would expect her to have a proper understanding of public integrity, exhibit good judgement and principled leadership in her scrutiny of the country's fraudulent, sleazy and corrupt politicians, civil and public figures. But, with the kind of public sentiment and anger directed at her, has she committed the worst national crime? Certainly not! Her crime in this scandal is her terrible error of judgement and poor ethical awareness of the office she occupied.
I think looking what went on, the central problem here is the country's dysfunctional system and our sense of entitlement. We think certain perks and luxury come with ministerial posts and appointments. What lesson has Parliament learnt from this CHRAJ Boss' accommodation issue? Why should Government appointees and ministers be entitled to tax-payer funded accommodation? If there's a law for this then it should be reformed, and if it has become a 'political practice' then it should be stopped now. Government appointees and ministers are well paid to get their own accommodations.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 9 years ago
LONTO-BOY, belated Happy 2015. I do not remember reading from you on Ghanaweb this year, unless my memory is becoming weak.
No, you are not being apologist by blaming part of the system in Ghana where public officials expe ... read full comment
LONTO-BOY, belated Happy 2015. I do not remember reading from you on Ghanaweb this year, unless my memory is becoming weak.
No, you are not being apologist by blaming part of the system in Ghana where public officials expect to be accommodated free, given cars, fuel, drivers, domestic staff and all other free perks despite their huge salaries. These are legacy from the colonial past that the Ghanaian ruling class not only maintained but also abuse for their selfish ends.
In fact, I intend to write an article on the subject but need to research what happens in the developed world. I know in the US even the President pays for certain items such as some toiletries at the White House. I also know from experience here in UK that when I used a leased car when working in a public institution, I made monthly contributions to the cost of the car since I used the car as my private car. I also bought my own fuel, engine oil and claimed mileage rate when I travelled outside my designated office for work related activities such as meetings, conferences, etc. However, when I worked in Ghana, I never contributed a peswa towards the cost of the cars I used or even towards petrol though I also used the car as my private car.
I remember once, I had an encounter with Rawlings at the Castle filling station over the cost free petrol to government officials when he came out of the Castle to inspect why that many people were taking petrol resulting in a long queue of vehicles as he suspected some were collecting fuel to travel to their home towns for the Easter holidays (it was a Wednesday before Good Friday). Our encounter is still relevant today considering the ongoing cost of fuel in Ghana and the government debts to the suppliers. That is also another article I plan to write to throw light on the real reason why fuels prices cannot be reduced as the Chairman of the PNDC told me in my encounter with him that day.
Paul 9 years ago
Kofi, having followed this story and read about the CHRAJ boss' defence, it saddens me that people simply miss the point of who hey are or what they are supposed to represent. The fact is, although we all know that rents in c ... read full comment
Kofi, having followed this story and read about the CHRAJ boss' defence, it saddens me that people simply miss the point of who hey are or what they are supposed to represent. The fact is, although we all know that rents in certain categories can be quite high (and my current monthly rent is about USD3,500), the fact remains that where it can be avoided, we should seek to do so.
Here is my point: My employer has housed me at the equivalent of USD3,500 per month!!! I chose this accommodation rather than a more expensive one, and even this one relatively speaking is simply too high, and I would settle for something less, except that it comes with the position etc.
I have no problem with Ms Lamptey paying USD4,000 plus for a short period of time whilst her official residence (which no doubt will cost more than USD5,000 per month come to think of it) was being renovated. My problem is why it had to take such a long time to complete the refurbishment of what was already a mansion.
Some would argue that internal renovations and adjustments can take longer than building a new house sometimes, but in this case, it appears she had a hand in modifying the original refurbishment plan (I cannot confirm) and I'm not sure if that affected the time taken to complete the project.
Surely someone in that position should have been sensitive to what the perception would be and should also have been prudent in her dealings, knowing how much it costs to rent, when she had a government bungalow to go and live in.
The worst part is to be in hotel accommodation for so long at USD450 PER NIGHT i.e. USD4,500 every 10 days = USD13,500 PER MONTH, compared to the USD4,500 per month she was paying earlier for rent.
Mind you my rent is USD3,500 per month (comparable to USD4,500 PCM for Ms. Lamptey. Is she telling us that she did not realise that her monthly rent had gone up by 300 per cent just by moving into hotel accommodation?
Of course she simply doesn't get it. No one is saying she is not entitled to accommodation equivalent to e.g. USD5,000 per month based on her status. What many of us cannot understand is why she will try to justify staying in hotel accommodation for 3 times that amount and not expect anyone to take notice and / or complain.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 9 years ago
Paul I agree with you that, the problem was created by her indiscretion in understanding that the state was facing financial difficulties at the time as well as the fact that she was the head of an organisation that is expect ... read full comment
Paul I agree with you that, the problem was created by her indiscretion in understanding that the state was facing financial difficulties at the time as well as the fact that she was the head of an organisation that is expected to be whiter than white.
You are also right that her decision to order the modifications and build an extension directly caused the delay and contributed to the high cost of the renovation. In fact, considering her age, I sometimes suspect that she planned to buy the property after her term and that was probably why she ordered major extension work to be done, though the modifications were to accommodate her children since most of these bungalow are just two bed rooms and she had two kids and therefore required three rooms.
The simple fact is that having listened to her she is totally out of touch with reality in Ghana and appears to be arrogant.
Paul 9 years ago
Reminds one of what Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey did to the accommodation he was given and then turned round to buy it!!! I never thought of that!
Reminds one of what Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey did to the accommodation he was given and then turned round to buy it!!! I never thought of that!
Ewe Boy 9 years ago
Why should any head of organization have an official residence? I have lived outside Ghana for a long time and realize that it's ONLY Ghana that Head of Organizations have company houses as perks. In countries like UK there a ... read full comment
Why should any head of organization have an official residence? I have lived outside Ghana for a long time and realize that it's ONLY Ghana that Head of Organizations have company houses as perks. In countries like UK there are very few who enjoy perks like that.
Otsibu Darko 9 years ago
She does get it all right' the fact is if other govt. officials are doing it why can't she-truth of the matter she is not patriotic likewise all Ghanaians, we're Ghanaians by name sake no honesty or patriotism on our part.
She does get it all right' the fact is if other govt. officials are doing it why can't she-truth of the matter she is not patriotic likewise all Ghanaians, we're Ghanaians by name sake no honesty or patriotism on our part.
That is why she refuses to get it.
Lauretta is confident because she knows nothing will come out this investigation. I would not be surprised if Mahama appoints her as one of the advisers at the Flagstaff house. It is all about job for the boys and girls! What ...
read full comment
He is truly an airhead
Her vanity is beyond belief. Was she not the same woman who wanted to continue her board position when she was appointed CHRAG commissioner? She unethical and too vain.
I don't blame this woman. I blame those who appointed him. What sort of vetting did she get before she was placed there?
Could somebody tell me which government employee are entitled to domestic servants, watchman, garden boy and driver.How many of such people are on government pay roll
MASSA KOFI, I respect your opinion piece and criticism of the suspended CHRAJ Boss, Ms Lauretta Lamptey. Yes, she still can't see that she ever did anything wrong, or sounds like someone who doesn't "get it", because she has ...
read full comment
LONTO-BOY, belated Happy 2015. I do not remember reading from you on Ghanaweb this year, unless my memory is becoming weak.
No, you are not being apologist by blaming part of the system in Ghana where public officials expe ...
read full comment
Kofi, having followed this story and read about the CHRAJ boss' defence, it saddens me that people simply miss the point of who hey are or what they are supposed to represent. The fact is, although we all know that rents in c ...
read full comment
Paul I agree with you that, the problem was created by her indiscretion in understanding that the state was facing financial difficulties at the time as well as the fact that she was the head of an organisation that is expect ...
read full comment
Reminds one of what Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey did to the accommodation he was given and then turned round to buy it!!! I never thought of that!
Why should any head of organization have an official residence? I have lived outside Ghana for a long time and realize that it's ONLY Ghana that Head of Organizations have company houses as perks. In countries like UK there a ...
read full comment
She does get it all right' the fact is if other govt. officials are doing it why can't she-truth of the matter she is not patriotic likewise all Ghanaians, we're Ghanaians by name sake no honesty or patriotism on our part.