CHRAJ must strengthen its investigative machinery - Minister

Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, on Thursday said in Parliament that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) should strengthen its investigative machinery to ensure that those who caused financial loss to the state were not re-engaged by their institutions.

He said there must be financial discipline in the economy and that there were some workers when dismissed or punished by their institutions took the matter up with CHRAJ, that directed that they should be reengaged. Mr Osafo-Maafo was reacting to contributions on the floor of the House when the budget estimates for CHRAJ was being debated.

Mr Kofi Attor NDC- Ho Central had called for substantial financial resources for the CHRAJ to be able to establish 11 more district offices so that justice could be brought to the doorsteps of the people.

Mr Osafo-Maafo said as much as he would wish that that was done it was equally important for the CHRAJ to make thorough investigations into complaints lodged to it by people, who have been dismissed at their work places for stealing or misappropriating money belonging to the state.

He said institutional disciplinary framework in one department might not be the same as in another and to use the same method to direct the reengagement of wrongdoers was causing financial indiscipline.

"We must be careful not to bring indiscipline into the system when dealing with such culprits", he said. The House finally approved 12.5 billion cedis budget for the CHRAJ.