Hon. Frank Annor-Dompreh
The man who first petitioned President John Mahama to probe CHRAJ Commissioner, Lauretta Lamptey, after revelations she abused her office says government is not committed to act on the matter.
Frank Annor-Dompreh, who is Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, cited denial by the office of the Chief Justice that a directive by President Mahama to investigate the embattled CHRAJ boss has reached it as clear evidence of government’s reluctance to investigate Ms Lamptey.
Judicial Secretary, Justice Alex Acheampong told Joy News as of October 13, 2014 the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Wood is yet to receive any order from the President directing that allegations of financial malfeasance by Ms Lamptey be looked into.
This was contrary to claims by Abraham Amaliba, who is a member of governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal committee, that the President had already done so.
A disappointed Annor-Dompreh says government must take Ghanaians serious, citing delay by the President to act on the petition he sent some three weeks ago another evidence government is not treating the issue with the seriousness it deserves.
Although Mr Amaliba had explained on Joy FM’s Saturday news analysis programme,Newsfile, that the delay to act on the petition sent by Mr Annor-Dompreh was because President Mahama was not in the country, the Nsawam Adoagyiri MP said that explanation is a “non-starter”.
Mr Annor-Dompreh maintained that if the government was really serious about acting on his petition, in the absence of President Mahama, Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, would have acted on it — in accordance with the Constitution.
Mrs Laureta Lamptey is being accused of misappropriating $148,000 on her 33-month rent and an additional $180,000 on renovating her official residence.
If investigations prove that Ms Lamptey misappropriated funds, she could be removed from office through the same process for the removal of office of justice of the Appeal or High courts, according Lawyer Samson Lardy Ayenini.
He adds that before a commissioner of CHRAJ, EC, NCCE is removed, a petition is first made to the President.
The President then forwards it to the Chief Justice, who determines whether there is a case to investigate.
If there is, a committee is set up consisting of three justices of superior court appointed by the Judicial Council and two other persons who are not lawyers, Members of Parliament or Council of state members to investigage the official in question.
Source: Ghana/myjoyonline.com