CHRAJ has failed - CDD

The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) says the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has failed to spearhead the process of developing a code of conduct for public officials. It says the situation is more pathetic because CHRAJ is the most appropriate institution to spearhead the process. The Executive Director of the Centre Prof. Gyimah -Boadi made this submission at a round table discussion on “Ten years of CHRAJ –Achievements, Prospects and Challenges” in Accra last Friday.

According to the CDD Boss, The Commission’s approach to the issue “has not been sufficiently proactive” because it has also failed to play a leading role in sensitizing the Ghanaian populace on the issue. ”CHRAJ has not been proactive in educating Ghanaians on this important aspect of good governance, despite the widespread insensitivity to issues of conflict of interest among our public officials”.

Demonstrating how little the Commission has done to promote anti-discrimination against people living with disability or HIV/AIDS, Prof. Gyimah-Boadi questioned how right at the head office of the commission, no elevator or access ramp has been provided for the disabled. The CDD boss also faulted the commission for what he described as duplication of roles in the area of anti-corruption with the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). He recommended a close collaboration with Parliament and the Executive to initiate a review of the overlapping jurisdiction of the two institutions.

He further observed that for the ten years that it has existed, the Commission has devoted most of its time to employer/employee relationships. “Some of those cases do not really lack alternative forums and avenues such as the courts for settlement and relief.” He therefore suggested that CHRAJ should instead concentrates on other equally important issues for which alternative avenues for redress are available.

CHRAJ Commissioner, Emile Francis Short on the other hand, emphasized the need to amend the Act that established the Commission so that its membership could be expanded to a minimum of 7 to include persons from other disciplines other than law. ”The presently constituted three member commission for an institution that combines the functions of a human rights commission, Ombudsman’s office and an anti-corruption agency, is severally handicapped in discharging effectively its diverse functions”. He also called for a review of the terms and conditions of service of commission members.

Commissioner Short argued that pegging the salary of commissioners with that of judges creates anomalies and disincentives because, ”the Deputy Commissioners and Commissioner will during their term of office, which may continue till they retire, continue to be on the status of High Court and Appeal Court Judges respectively without any opportunity for promotion or career progression,” he stated. He suggested that a sitting Commissioner’s salary be made to roll over to that of a Supreme Court Judge while that of a Deputy Commissioner is made to roll over to that of an Appeal Court Judge. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Papa Owusu-Ankomah chaired the function.