Accra, April 8, GNA - Dr. George Sipa Yankey, former Minister of Health, on Thursday filed a writ at an Accra Fast Track High Court (AFTHC) (Human Rights Division) compelling the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to hear him. He is seeking an order of certiorari to quash the decision by CHRAJ to suspend the public hearing of allegations of corruption in the Mabey and Johnson (M&J) case.

Dr. Yankey is also seeking an order of mandamus directing and compelling CHRAJ to perform its constitutional and statutory duty by granting him an expeditious hearing in the case. He noted that CHRAJ's refusal to hear him constituted blatant and flagrant violation of his constitutional rights and freedoms enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

In an affidavit in support of a motion on notice for the enforcement of human rights, Dr. Yankey noted that CHRAJ's failure to hear him was causing pain and anguish, hardship and suffering as there was no clear indication from the commission as to when the public hearing would resume. Dr. Yankey is contending that as a young professional, and a Cabinet Minister, he had to resign following the commencement of investigations into the allegations on October 29, 2009 to devote time to clear his name. CHRAJ was investigating seven former officials in respect of allegations of corruption during the operations of M&J Limited in Ghana. However, public hearing by CHRAJ was halted following an order of prohibition application filed by six out of the seven former officials. They are: Kwame Peprah, Alhaji Baba Kamara, Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Sadique, Alhaji Amadu Seidu, Brigadier-General Lord Attivor and Dr. Ato Quarshie.

In the motion filed by Mr. Kwame Gyan, counsel for Dr. Yankey, noted that on February 15, 2010, CHRAJ wrote a letter inviting his client for public hearing on March 15.

On March 15, Dr. Yankey said he appeared before the Commission with his counsel but counsel for the other persons being investigated with the exception of him (Dr. Yankey) raised objections on the grounds that they were not public officials at the time the acts of alleged corruption complained about was committed. After the first public hearing, the Commissioner of Human Rights, Mr. Emile Francis Short, who is the Chairman of the panel conducting the public hearing granted live televised interview on Metro TV in which he allegedly discussed the on-going public hearing. According to the six officials the Commissioner's statements were pre-judicial.

During CHRAJ's next sitting on March 29, it ruled that because of the order of prohibition, it would not hear the matter and adjourned it to April 7. Subsequently, on April 1, CHRAJ wrote to Dr. Yankey that because of the application for review which had been filed at the High Court by the six former public officials, the public hearing had been suspended. According to Dr. Yankey, unless CHRAJ was compelled by the AFTHC by an order of mandamus, it would continue to trample on his rights with impunity, leaving him without recourse. CHRAJ has been served with the writ but a date is yet to be fixed for hearing.