Audio By Carbonatix
Ghana's human rights and good governance ombudsman, CHRAJ, it has instituted measures to mitigate corruption among its staff after revelations its head may have abused her office..
Deputy CHRAJ Commissioner, Richard Quayson, says the Commission has put place in systems to ensure early detection of corrupt activities by any of its staff and administer punitive measures immediately.
Although he did not outline the specific measures to check corruption among its staff, he told Joy News recently that beyond two major corruption allegations that hit the Commission not too long ago, the institution has put in place "some good systems" to check the trend and also remove perception among the public that the body is corrupt.
Mr Quayson further announced that the Commission will embark on a nationwide campaign to get people to uphold the virtues of integrity in a bid to fight corruption, which some analysts say has become pervasive in the country.
On measures to fight the widespread corruption in Ghana, he said the Commission is targeting "all the stakeholders", notably leadership of the media and faith based institution.
"We want to get them [ media and faith-based institutions] to speak more clearly and factually on corruption", Mr Quayson said.
CHRAJ Commissioner, Lauretta Lamptey, is currently being investigated by the Chief Justice for alleged abuse of office and misuse of state resources after it emerged she spent $148,500 in 33 months for her rent at the African Union (AU) Village from November, 2011 to August 9, 2014.
After moving out of the AU Village apartment, she later checked into a hotel where she paid $456.25 per night as renovation works on her official accommodation continued to delay.
The face-lift of her official accommodation, which is costing the state GH¢182,000, has taken two years to complete.
Per Ms Lamptey's position, the amounts she is alleged to have expended on her rent at the AU Village and at the hotel exceeded what the state allocates for her office.
Ms. Lamptey is ranked at the same level as an Appeals Court Judge and was not supposed to spend more than $350 a month -- the stipulated rent allowance for judges at that rank.
If the probe by the Chief Justice confirms she abused her office, she could be removed from her office.
However, that was not the only scandal that rocked the constitutional body mandated with the responsibility to check corruption of public office holders.
The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) last September picked up the Head of Treasury at the Commission for questioning over allegations of fraud.
Sonny Eric Adinyira was on secondment at CHRAJ from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department.
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