CHRAJ is assessing environmental impact on mining communities

Tamale, July 15, GNA - The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has embarked on environmental impact assessment on mining communities to determine how the rights of the people were being infringed upon and make recommendations. Mr Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ said this in Tamale on Monday at a day's seminar for media personnel in Tamale Metropolis.

It was to foster good relationship and equip media personnel with the requisite knowledge and information on reporting on human rights issues and mal-administration.

Mr Quayson said the commission would come out with a report on its findings next month and recommendations on how the people should be assisted when their fundamental human rights had been abused. He noted that the commission had succeeded in working to improve accountability particularly from public office holders in the country. Mr Quayson advised the media to formally lodge complaints with the commission after reporting on malpractices related to public office holders to enable the commission investigate and come out with the appropriate recommendations.

Answering questions from the media, he said it was wrong for civil servants to publicly associate themselves with political parties saying, "Civil servants cannot contest for political positions and after losing return to office. It is wrong and must be stopped."

Mrs Comfort Akosua Edu, CHRAJ Communications Director, stressed the importance of human rights reporting and advised media personnel not to hesitate to report on human rights issues to educate the people on their rights.

She said human rights in Ghana were often abused out of ignorance because the people affected did not know the appropriate institutions to seek redress. Mrs Edu urged the media and the public to report any form of human rights abuse to CHRAJ offices for action to be taken.