General News of Sunday, 18 January 2015
Source: citifmonline.com
The president of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana has said that President John Mahama deserves commendation for the way he has handled the rent scandal involving the Commissioner of the Commission for Human Rights and Administration Justice (CHRAJ), Ms Lauretta Lamptey.
Ms Lamptey has been accused of misusing public funds after it was revealed she had spent $180, 000 on rent and GH¢182, 000 on the renovation of her official bungalow.
President Mahama ordered the Chief Justice to begin an investigation into the activities of the CHRAJ Boss after he received separate petitions against her when news of the widely-perceived excessive expenditure broke in September last year.
The President, on January 13, suspended Ms Lamptey “on the advice of the Judicial Council, pursuant to article 146(10) (b) of the 1992 constitution following the “establishment of a prima facie case against Ms. Lamptey by the Chief Justice, and the setting up of a five (5)-member committee to investigate complaints made against her.
And speaking on the Big Issue, Franklin Cudjoe stated that despite a slight delay in the start of the procedures to investigate Ms. Lamptey, which he attributed to the processes of the lower courts, the President’s response to the scandal must be commended.
“Every attempt at fighting corruption or perceived corruption is important and the President deserves commendation for that,” Franklin Cudjoe said. Looking at it within the milieu of West African politics, there are countries that just don’t care, like the Gambia. Can you imagine the Chief Justice, there coming after an officer of this nature and probably it goes against the president, he will chase you away.
The President had no option than to be seen as respecting the separation of powers and for allowing the process. But the bottom line is that the President has acted and he deserves commendation for that.”
Ms. Lamptey, on Friday responded to the accusations of corruption against her, stating those allegations in the petitions presented has been dismissed.
She said on the Citi Breakfast Show: “Nothing on those headings board on corruption because if somebody said received $4500, I would agree with him but he didn’t have that heading in his petition and in any case it can easily be refuted because it has nothing that come close to corruption.”