[ 2014-12-04 ]

CHRAJ boss may be impeached
The Commissioner for Human Rights and
Administrative Justice body, CHRAJ, Ms Lauretta
Lamptey has her job on the line after the Chief
Justice Georgina Wood paved the way for
investigations to begin into allegations of
corruption and abuse of office.
Justice Georgina Wood has established a prima
facie case against the CHRAJ boss after studying a
number of petitions forwarded to her by President
John Mahama.
One of such petitioners is the leader a pressure
group Progressive Nationalist Forum, Richard
Nyamah who after receiving the CJ’s 24-paged
decision, described it as “gratifying”.
Ms Lauretta Lamptey paid close to $5,000 monthly
rent on her plush AU Village apartment for 33
months while over GHS180,000 was being spent to
renovate her official bungalow.
Media reports of the expenditure attracted public
opprobrium for the human rights and administrative
justice Commissioner.
The position of Commissioner being equated to a
Court of Appeal Judge, the procedures as they
pertain to a Court of Appeal Judge are to be
followed in removing the CHRAJ Commissioner.
Article 146 (3) of the constitution states that
“If the President receives a petition for the
removal of Justice of a Superior Court other than
the Chief Justice or for the removal of the
Chairman of a Regional Tribunal, he shall refer
the petition to the Chief Justice, who shall
determine whether there is a prima facie case.”
Expressing delight that the decision of the CJ,
Richard Nyamah noted a “critical hurdle in the
impeachment process” has began.

Read statement from Progressive Nationalist Forum
(PNF)
CHIEF JUSTICE MAKES PRIMA FACIE CASE AGAINST CHRAJ
BOSS
I am delighted in a measure, I suppose the entire
nation would, to learn that Her Ladyship the Chief
Justice, Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood, has made a
prima facie case on my petition for the removal of
the Commissioner of the CHRAJ from office.
Yesterday, my Counsel Samson Lardy ANYENINI’s
chambers received official communication from the
august office of the Chief Justice to this
effect.
A 24-page report containing the decision notes the
petition grounded on “… acts of serious
misconduct, inappropriate exercise of office,
serious misjudgement, breaches of laws and public
trust” together with its accompanying exhibits
as well as a response provided by Ms. Lauretta
Vivian Lamptey have been carefully examined by the
Chief Justice acting in her administrative
capacity as she is constitutionally mandated.
It concludes that “… a prima facie case has
been made to justify full investigations into the
complaints….”
While duly recognising that this finding is not
conclusive of guilt, it is gratifying to cross
this critical hurdle in the impeachment process.
It is also reassuring that the accompanying letter
signed by Judicial Secretary, Justice Alex B.
Poku-Acheampong on the directions of the Chief
Justice, says “(t)he Hon. Lady Chief Justice in
compliance with Article 146(4) of the 1992
Constitution is therefore in the process of
setting up a committee to investigate the
compliant.”
H.E President John Mahama is humbly reminded the
coast is now clear and urged to act on the earlier
appeal to him to consider exercising his Article
146 (10) (b) constitutional powers to suspend Ms.
Lamptey pending investigations.
This has become even more important over news that
she has not only lost the requisite moral standing
to preside over matters of human rights abuse and
administrative injustices but has also brought
CHRAJ’s reputation into serious question
internationally.
Long live Ghana.
Signed

Source - Richard Nyamah

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