The North Tongu legislator has called the President to urgently fill the vacant Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) position by the end of this month.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says considering the importance of the work of the Commissioner role, the vacancy “reflects poorly on the Akufo-Addo administration which promised to strengthen anti-graft institutions, particularly, the ombudsman in the fight against corruption.” 

The second executive position of the independent organisation which aims to safeguard human rights in the country has been left vacant since the CHRAJ scandal that got the previous occupant of the position, Lauretta Lamptey suspended. 

The ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament said that if Akufo-Addo fails to fill the position, he is continuing the “flagrant dereliction of his legal obligations,” to the country.

Read the full statement below.

FILL UP VACANT DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF CHRAJ POSITION NOW

It has been more than three years without the full complement of Commissioners at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

Section 2 of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Act, 1993 (ACT 456) on the Composition of the Commission provides:

"(1) The Commission shall consist of

(a) a Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice in this Act referred to as "the Commissioner"; and

(b) two Deputy Commissioners for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, in this Act referred to as "the Deputy Commissioners".

(2) The President shall, acting in consultation with the Council of State appoint the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioners."

Since the elevation of Joseph Akanjolenur Whittal from a Deputy Commissioner to Commissioner by President John Mahama in December 2016 following the removal of Commissioner Lauretta Lamptey, the position of a mandatory Deputy Commissioner to support the other Deputy Commissioner, Richard Ackom Quayson has long been vacant.

We do know that the CHRAJ was established by an Act of Parliament to: "investigate complaints of violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms, injustice and corruption; abuse of power and unfair treatment of persons by public officers in the exercise of their duties, with power to seek remedy in respect of such acts or omissions and to provide for other related purposes."

This development reflects poorly on the Akufo-Addo Administration which promised to strengthen anti-graft institutions, particularly, the ombudsman in the fight against corruption. 

For a Government that has become infamous for being the largest in history and for creating new positions just for their children even when such positions have never existed, it must be definitely unpardonable for the CHRAJ law to be treated with such utter disdain.

One can safely predict that this vacancy - the longest in our modern history would not have been allowed to occur under President  Akufo-Addo's watch if it was any other institution not cloaked with the authority to fight corruption, conflict of interest and administrative injustice by the powers that be such as GNPC, BOST, TOR, SSNIT, DVLA, etc. 

For example, see how quickly a replacement was found and appointed at TOR in the person of Herbert Ato Morrison when the MD, Isaac Osei resigned only a few days ago.

Added to the frustrations of the under-staffed Office of the Special Prosecutor, this presents another sad commentary about the fight against corruption under President Akufo-Addo which many including prominent members of the diplomatic corps have described as a sham.

I hereby serve notice that if President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo fails to fill the Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ vacancy by close of this month (January 2020) and thus continues with the flagrant dereliction of his legal obligations, I shall explore every available constitutional avenue to compel him to abide by Act 456. Notice is humbly served.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa  [MP, North Tongu]  Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament.