The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has advised workers of the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) to petition CHRAJ over alleged cases of victimization.

The anti-graft body said CHRAJ is better positioned to arrest the maltreatment of workers because it is constitutionally mandated to investigate issues of human rights abuse.

The PURC workers on Wednesday staged a protest to register what they said was the unfair manner their colleagues are being treated by management.

PURC Local Union Chairman, Alhaji Abubakari Jabaru, told Joy News they have lost confidence in activities of PURC Executive Secretary, Samuel Sarpong and the board.

He claimed Mr Sarpong has sanctioned the victimization of former PURC Head of Finance, Isaac Kofi Hasan who was accused of leaking information to Joy News.

[L-R] PURC Director of Public Affairs, Nana Yaa Jantuah and Executive Secretary, Samuel Sarpong

The public utility regulator has been in the news for a month now after Joy News intercepted some documents with questionable transactions.

In one of the documents, the sum of GHC400,000 was transferred into the personal account of Mr Sarpong, but he insisted the transaction was only to facilitate the organisation of a programme and every penny was accounted for.

In a discussion with Joy News’ Kwetey Nartey, Mr Hasan said his boss, Mr Sarpong directed him to deposit the amount into his personal account.

Days after his discussion with the reporter, he has received four separate letters questioning his conduct.

A memo dated March 16 reads;

“In accordance with the Senior Staff Conditions of Service, you have breached the ethics of the Commission by providing information concerning the business of the Commission to the general public through the electronic media without express authorization.”

Mr Jabaru said the citizens would be surprised by the revelations in the documents they have about transactions at the Commission.

He urged the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the President to conduct an audit into the Commission’s financial account.

But GII Programmes Manager, Mary Adda, urged the PURC workers to petition CHRAJ if they want their issues to be addressed.

“One of CHRAJ’s mandates is justice,” she said, adding a well-detailed petition citing all the cases of abuse would be enough for the human rights body to act.