CHRAJ boss suspended

President John Mahama has suspended the embattled Commissioner of the Commission for Human Rights & Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Lauretta Vivian Lamptey.
The President said the action was on the advice of the Judicial Council and in line with Article 146 (10) (b) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the Flagstaff House Communications Bureau quoted the Chief of Staff, Prosper Bani as saying, “the suspension follows 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.”
The suspension, Mr. Bani noted, is to protect the integrity of the enquiry.
Ms. Lamptey has been asked to hand over her duties to a Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Richard Quayson, by Friday, January 16, 2015.
The CHRAJ boss came under a fierce criticism over the rental of a luxury apartment at the AU Village, whilst large sums of money was being used to renovate her official residence.
Richard Nyamah, who was among those who petitioned the President for her removal said the suspension was necessary to avoid any interference by Ms Lamptey with investigations into the allegations of misconduct and abuse of office against her.
The CHRAJ Commissioner is being investigated for paying 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.
Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood initiated the investigations to ascertain the claim of abuse of office by Mr Nyamah of the Progressive Nationalists Forum (PNF).
The Chief Justice, acting on a petition filed by Mr. Nyamah, commissioned the investigations after establishing a prima facie case against Ms Lamptey.
Mr Nyamah petitioned President John Dramani, demanding the removal of Ms. Lamptey as CHRAJ Commissioner.
Credit: MyJoyOnline