CHRAJ temporarily turns down petition to probe parliament over bribery

Abu Mubarik 06:53 - 18 February 2017

The petitioner, Nana Kusi-Poku Listowel, had asked CHRAJ to investigate the allegation since parliament cannot to probe itself but CHRAJ said it will hold its investigation in abeyance awaiting the outcome of parliament's committee investigating the matter.

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has turned down a petition to probe the Appointments Committee of parliament following an allegation of bribery against some members of the committee.

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Following the allegation by Mahama Ayariga, the Speaker of Parliament put in place a special committee to investigate the matter after some members of the appointments committee rejected the bribery claims.

“CHRAJ has decided not to exercise its discretion to decline investigating the allegations altogether; but rather, at this stage, to hold its investigation in abeyance awaiting the outcome of the committee’s findings,” the commission said in a report.

It explained that its decision was premised upon section 13 (1) (a) and (b) of Act 456, 1993, which allows the Commission to decline to investigate a complaint if there is an adequate remedy for the complaint or it is deemed unnecessary.

Nonetheless, the commission added that:“The Commission is mindful of the fact that the crux of the allegations under enquiry touch and concern the conduct of Constitutional Public officers which ultimately falls within the ambit of Chapter 24 of the 1992 Constitution thereby making CRAJ the relevant constitutional forum for redress as affirmed by the Supreme Court in the Ablakwa (NO. 2) v Jake Otanka Obestsebi-Lamptey (2012) 20SCGLR 846.”

CHRAJ said it was satisfied with Parliament’s investigative committee’s work so far, which is holding public sittings as a means of ensuring transparency.

The commission added that “it would not hesitate to assert its broad constitutional mandates should circumstances after the committee’s proceedings and after perusing its Report warrant further investigation into the matter.”