Mahama car gift: CHRAJ has capacity to probe – CPP Youth

The absence of a substantive head of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) does not hamper the institution from carrying out a full investigation to bring closure to allegations of misconduct by President John Mahama for accepting a car gift, the Convention People’s Party’s (CPP) Youth League has stated.

Mr Mahama has received a lot of flak from anti-graft bodies and opposition parties recently over a revelation that he received a Ford Expedition SUV as a gift from Burkinabe contractor, Mr Djibril Kanazoe, who, in turn, was awarded with a number of contracts by the government of Ghana.

Unhappy with the turn of events with allegations of a possible act of corruption by Mr Mahama, the CPP Youth League petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on the matter.

In a press release signed by the Head of Communications Command of the CPP Youth League, Jason Tutu, he indicated that certain “unscrupulous politicians have sought to throw cold water on our otherwise patriotic and 'Ghana First' position on this matter”.

“One of their unfounded disagreements is the puerile objection being raised that CHRAJ does not currently have the standing to investigate the matter. It is interesting that such objections are mainly based on the mere fact that the commission does not have a substantive head. As far as there is someone acting as commissioner, the institutional mandate of the commission is not diminished by the absence of a substantive head. Such objections are, therefore, merely presumptive and untenable,” the statement dated June 23, indicated.

The youth wing of the CPP further noted that it will not be perturbed by certain politicians who are trying to sabotage its efforts and will pursue the case to its logical conclusion.

They lauded OccupyGhana, a pressure group that is also advocating investigations and called for more support to ensure that there was sanctity at the presidency to preserve the image of the country.

“Some have a problem with the uncompromising and blistering youthful force we wield; we propose that they advise with age, not by sabotage in the shadows, with the aim to discourage. Our only promise to such elements and all Ghanaians is that we will fear no obstacle nor relent in this battle to ensure that Ghana works again,” the statement emphasised.

Below is the full statement:

GHANA MUST COME FIRST IN 'MAHAMA FORD' GIFT SAGA

Greetings from the Central Command of the League.
We have taken note of the excitement that our petition to CHRAJ has generated and will like to assure the public that our pursuit of the matter is purely based on the national interest, and must be delinked from just another squabble in the political arena; for the issue at hand raises grave implications for the integrity of the highest office of the land.

As such, the precedence we allow to be established for conduct in this office is one that must be above board and with no hint of decay and underhanded dealings.

The quest to ensure this sanctity of what should be the most respected office in Ghana is our utmost motivator in this struggle. We therefore believe that any Ghanaian with a fibre of patriotic instinct in his or her being must understand this objective and lend their support to it. Otherwise, we shudder at the thought of the sort of unethical and borderline unethical behaviour we maybe condoning by the president and the presidency; which definitely will be a reflection on Ghana's image, both at home and abroad.

In pursuit of the preceding objective, we are most encouraged that CHRAJ has written back to us acknowledging receipt of our petition and assuring us that the matter will be dealt with expeditiously.

It is our hope that a resolution from the commission will bring closure to this matter and serve as a definitive point of guidance for future reference, devoid of the usual raucous ambience that characterises such issues with ultimately no resolution and only perpetuating greater confusion. It goes without saying that such a state of affairs has been the backbone of the continuous exploitation and unbridled misconduct by unprincipled and certainly unscrupulous politicians who sadly constitute a majority in our country today.


We note that other individuals and groups such as OccupyGhana and some political parties have initiated various actions and made various demands. This is an encouraging development since it reinforces the citizens' demand for accountability.

That notwithstanding, our petition has caused many people to say that we are being too radical or too militant or that we act, as we do, due to youthful exuberance. We will like to assure all Ghanaians that our actions, those past and others yet to be taken, are nothing but our revolutionary duty to building our nation. For it is abundantly clear that the prevailing revisionist thinking will never redeem Ghana in a billion years. Some have a problem with the uncompromising and blistering youthful force we wield, we propose that they advice with age not by sabotage in the shadows, with the aim to discourage. Our only promise to such elements and all Ghanaians is that we will fear no obstacle nor relent in this battle to ensure that Ghana works again.

All are therefore encouraged to drink deep from the fountains of integrity and truth, and to make efforts in the pursuit of same.

We are relentless and fearless. We are fighters for truth.

Revolutionary regards to all.

…….SIGNED…….

Commander Jason Tutu,
Head of Communications Command, CPP Youth League

Commander Hardi Yakubu
Secretary to the Youth League