CHRAJ not an institution for litigation - CHRAJ district director

Akuma, (B/A), Nov. 18, GNA - Mrs Joyce Boahen, Nkoranza District Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has stated that, the Commission is not an institution for litigation, as some people perceive it.

He said, instead, it is a quash judicial institution established to promote, protect and enforce fundamental human rights and administrative justice for all persons in Ghana, irrespective of their background or social status.

Mrs Boahen was educating the members of the Nkoranza District Presbyterian Womens Fellowship about the role of the CHRAJ and the structures of the PNDC law 111 or the Interstate Succession Law at the celebration of their 26th anniversary programme at Akuma in the district on Sunday.

She said the commission educates the public on their fundamental human rights and responsibilities so as to create greater human rights awareness and to encourage people to assert their rights when violated and to also prevent the people from flouting the laws of the country in order not fall prey to the laws as well.

She explained that at the district levels, CHRAJ uses mediation to resolve complaints and when the mediation fails, complainants have to agree with the commission to pursue the case in court for enforcement to prevent human rights abuses in the communities.

Mrs Boahen announced that CHRAJ cannot investigate cases pending before courts or cases between the Government and any other government or an international organization or a matter relating to the exercise of prerogative of mercy or on criminal matters.

The CHRAJ Director advised the members of the Church to patronize their public educational programmes so as to be aware of their rights and responsibilities, so that they co-exist with others peacefully, but if they are ignorant of their responsibilities, they are likely to violate the laws of the state.

Mrs Boahen cautioned family heads and other leaders in the society against preventing spouses and their families from inheriting the estate of their deceased husbands and wives and said the practice is an offence and people who violate the laws could either be fined 500,000 cedis by the court or be imprisoned for a year.

Reverend Addo Lartey, Nkoranza District Minister of the Church commended CHRAJ for their efforts in promoting human rights and freedom among the people to enhance the development of the state.

Rev. Lartey urged the members of the church to take a greater lesson from the education received and live above reproach and they would improve upon their lifestyles.

Mrs. Georgina Ayitey, Nkoranza District Secretary of the Presbyterian Womens' Fellowship stressed the need for women to have fellow feelings among themselves and desist from creating enmity, hatred as well as sowing seed of discord among themselves for the practice is a disgrace to women in general.