CHRAJ has become ineffective –Casely-Hayford

A financial analyst, Sydney Casely-Hayford is advocating for the setting up of a new body outside the remit of the presidency to tackle issues of corruption since the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and other agencies responsible for fighting corruption have failed to do so.

“Outside of the Presidency, we need a body that can actually do this independently or else we will do it in such a way that it will force the presidency to take action.”

This follows recent reports of corruption at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Customs Bonded warehouses involving some top companies and Chief Executives.

According to Mr. Casely-Hayford, corruption within in government can never go away if the executive is left with the responsibility of handling it. He noted that the proposed body if set up will help ensure sanity within government.

He also asked the Council of State to step up and help in the fight against corruption “the Council of State, as stated in the constitution, has the power to insist or to get the President to set up any type of commission of inquiry that they think is necessary to initiate investigations into corrupt practices in the country.”

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, he noted that other agencies such as the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and Parliament also have a role in ensuring that corruption is fully tackled.

He noted that CHRAJ as a law enforcing body has become laid back, a situation he described as detrimental to the country’s progress.

“CHRAJ is not doing its job; CHRAJ should be getting things done and let us understand that there is a watchdog for us in the country. As citizens in this country we need to feel confident that our Humans Rights Administrative Justice system is working. “

He also noted that CHRAJ should be able to investigate issues independent of government’s influence or machinery.

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana