Dr Anane Gets Back His Post

... Nominated for the post of Transportation Minister
Accra, Feb. 13, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor has again nominated Dr Richard Winfred Anane, Member of Parliament for Nshyieso, as Minister for Transportation.

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Sakyi-Hughes, read the letter from the President on Dr Anane's nomination to Parliament on Wednesday morning.

Dr Anane's nomination has been referred to the Appointment Committee for vetting and report.

Dr Anane resigned from his position as Minister of Transportation after the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) indicted him of various offences in September 2006.

CHRAJ's decision was based on investigations into allegations of corruption, conflict of interest and abuse of power against him that led to widespread calls for his resignation to clear his name. Though Dr Anane was cleared on the allegation of corruption, the Commission recommended his removal from office. It said this was because the findings of its investigations showed that the Minister had given contradictory figures concerning money sent to his mistress, Alexandria O'Brian, under oath before the Commission and in a prior appearance before a Parliamentary Select Committee during his vetting as Minister.

Dr Anane subsequently resigned his post and contested the matter at the High Court where CHRAJ's decisions were quashed.

CHRAJ pursued the matter at the Supreme Court that upheld Dr Anane's position by ruling that CHRAJ could not investigate allegations based on mere media reports without a formal complaint from identifiable persons, whether legal or natural.

By a 4-1 majority decision, the Supreme Court dismissed the application for certiorari filed by CHRAJ, which sought to quash a High Court decision overturning CHRAJ's decision that Dr Anane had abused his office, committed perjury and engaged in a conflict of interest.