The youth of the Convention Peoples Party have petitioned the Commission on Human Rights Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate President Mahama for accepting a gift from a Burkinabe businessman, an act they say contravenes 1992 constitution.

In a statement copied to myjoyonline.com, the Secretary of the Youth League, ‘Commander’ Hardi Yakubu believes that accepting the Ford Expedition amounts to  conflict of interest.

National Youth Organiser Ernesto Yeboah leads the CPP Youth League

The move escalates a raging controversy surrounding the Presidency after a Joy News investigations by Manasseh Azure revealed President John Mahama in 2012 thanked a Burkinabe contractor Djibril Kanazoe for the gift after he had won contracts.

Government has admitted the President took the gift but has explained that Mahama later donated the 2010 luxury vehicle to government.

The revelations have put government’s fight against corruption under a cloud and president’s Mahama’s image is under scrutiny as the President’s acceptance of the gift raises conflict of interest questions.

Already, the Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative Linda Ofori Kwafo has been emphatic in stating that the acceptance is a clear case of conflict of interest. She explained that conflict of interest may be potential, apparent or actual.

Linda Ofori Kwafo

 President John Mahama has put himself in two of these scenarios – potential and apparent, she said.

Linda Ofori stated that President John Mahama who launched a code of ethics for government officials in 2013, is fully abreast with issues of gift-taking, conflict of interest and corruption.

“Mahama knows what gift to accept and not to accept” she explained.

Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice is an independent state institution mandated to investigate complaints of corruption and abuse of power by public officers in the exercise of their duties.

The CPP Youth League referred to Article 284 of the 1992 constitution detailing the CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PUBLIC OFFICERS.

It states that a public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with the performance of the functions of his office.

They further cite Article 287 which states that:

(1) An allegation that a public officer has contravened or has not complied with a provision of this Chapter shall be made to the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice …who shall, unless the person concerned makes a written admission of the contravention or non-compliance, cause the matter to be investigated.

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) had indicated it will petition CHRAJ over the controversy. But the CPP appears to have taken the initiative in a gift saga that could lead to the impeachment of the President.

Click to read petition