National Youth League of CPP petitions CHRAJ over Ford Expedition gift to President
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has received a petition from the National Youth League of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) to institute formal investigation into the Ford Expedition vehicle received by President John Dramani Mahama from a Burkinabe contractor.
Advertisement
The petition by the youth league was received by CHRAJ at 10:55 a.m. yesterday, June 21, 2016.
The human rights body is to find out whether or not the President, by accepting the gift, has contravened any provisions of the 1992 Constitution relating to the code of conduct for public officers.
A Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ in charge of Legal and Investigations, Mr Joseph Whittal, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said in line with constitutional provisions, the commission would first seek from the President his side of the case in which an investigative report by Joy FM had alleged that he had received a Ford Expedition from a Burkinabe contractor.
Mr Whittal said the 1992 Constitution mandated an investigation into the matter if there was no admission from the party concerned, and that would tie in with the request for a formal investigation by the CPP.
Article 287 of the 1992 Constitution says “an allegation that a public officer has contravened a provision relating to the code of conduct of public officials shall be made to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice… who shall, unless the person concerned makes a written admission of the contravention or non-compliance, cause the matter to be investigated”.
Steps
Mr Whittal, in the interview, explained that the petition was to investigate the President on a case of possible conflict of interest.
He said after CHRAJ had received the petition or complaint, it would be assessed by officials of the commission to ensure that the petition or complaint was by an identifiable body.
Other Trending Stories
“When that has been established and the commission has satisfied itself that the petitioners are an identifiable organisation, an investigator will be tasked to review and determine if the petition merits further investigations,” he added.
The investigator would then make recommendations, based on which the commission would decide whether to proceed with a formal investigation or not, he said.
“Sometimes, the investigator could be tasked to do some more work on the petition before a decision is taken,” Mr Whittal pointed out.
Identifiable body
He said the petition by the National Youth League of the CPP was sufficient to trigger the mandate of the commission and start a preliminary examination of the matter.
He referred to the Supreme Court ruling, CHRAJ verses High Court; ex parte Dr Richard Anane, which decided that the commission needed an identifiable complainant to carry out investigations on conflict of interest by public officials.
In keeping with that, the commission had to satisfy itself that the complainants were identifiable before proceeding.
Petition
Meanwhile, the petition, signed by the Secretary to the Youth League, Commander Hardi Yakubu, asked CHRAJ to institute formal investigations into the Ford Expedition gift received by the President.
It also wanted the commission to establish whether or not accepting the gift occasioned a conflict of interest situation.
Writer's email: caroline.boateng@graphic.com.gh