Eastern Region CHRAJ received over 8,000 human rights abuse cases

Koforidua, Sept. 15, GNA - The Eastern Region office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has received 8,116 human rights abuse cases and dealt with 7,313 of them since it opened in 1994.

Out of the number, labour and family related cases formed the majority such as wrongful dismissal, discrimination and victimization, claim for social security and end-of-service benefits, women and children maintenance, compulsory acquisition of private property by government, among others.

The Regional Director of the Commission, Mr Patrick Baayeh, who announced this at the launching of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the CHRAJ at Koforidua on Monday, said at the district offices, the dominant cases were non-maintenance of children.

The theme for the celebration is: "Ten years of the CHRAJ, Achievements, Prospects and Challenges."

According to Mr Baayeh, about seventy per cent of the cases handled by the Commission were disposed off by mediation and conciliation, saying through timely and effective mediation, the Commission had been able to defuse tension and prevent potentially destructive outcome of disputes in some communities troubled by inter-group conflicts.

On its contribution to good governance, he said the Commission had been working tirelessly in partnership with non-governmental organisations and the media to foster respect for the rule of law, natural justice and procedural fairness in the country.

Through its anti-corruption mandate and the enforcement of the Code of Conduct for public officers, the Commission had made much contribution to the promotion of transparency and accountability. Mr Baayeh said the Commission had played a leading role in reforming outmoded customary and traditional practices, saying in collaboration with the International Needs, an NGO, it had succeeded in the liberation of over 2,000 Trokosi women and children held in bondage in various shrines.

He said the CHRAJ also did some advocacy work to address the plight of women suspected of being witches who were sometimes lynched, assaulted or banished from their communities.

On the challenges facing the Commission, the Regional Director expressed regret that insufficient budgetary allocation over the years and poor service conditions as compared to analogous institutions such as the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), was affecting staff performance, leading to some experienced staff, especially lawyers, having to leave the Commission's employment.

Mr Baayeh also noted that the "unwieldy mandate" of the CHRAJ, which combined human rights, Ombudsman and anti-corruption agency, was part of the problem and therefore, called for the review of the mandate and realignment of its functions to enable it to have a clear focus and way forward.

He also mentioned the inability of the Commission to prosecute and enforce its anti-corruption cases and human rights abuses rulings as a factor.

During an open forum, participants unanimously advocated the separation of the functions of the Attorney General from the Minister of Justice and the empowerment of the CHRAJ to prosecute corruption cases in its efforts to promote high level of integrity among public officers. The Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng, who chaired the ceremony, stressed the need for the strengthening of the Commission to embark on its human rights education mandate to make the people more conscious of upholding and protecting their human rights against any abuses.