Former Commissioner of the Human Rights and Administrative Justice Emile Short says the country needs a new credible commissioner capable of restoring the lost confidence in the administrative body.
He wants the president to take time in the search for a new boss of the commission which has been left vacant after the dismissal of Mrs Lauretta Lamptey.
A Chief Justice committee constituted to investigate allegations of misconduct and abuse of office against Mrs Lamptey recommended her dismissal and the president obliged.
Weeks after her dismissal, an anti corruption body, Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) is campaigning for President John Mahama to hasten the process in appointing a new boss for the Commission.
Executive Director of GII Vitus Azeem said the president does not need a year to appoint a CHRAJ boss.
He cautioned against undue delays in appointing a new boss at the administrative body.
With Laureta Lamptey out of the way, one of two commissioners is acting as boss of the commission, something Vitus Azeem is not happy with.
He said for independent bodies, it is usually not advisable to have people working in acting capacities.
He said people in acting capacities are likely to look over their shoulders when taking decisions for fear of being removed when their actions appear not to be in line with that of the appointing authority.
Whilst agreeing with Azeem that the Commission needs a new substantive head, Emile Short said the president must take time to appoint a competent, independent minded person capable of handling the triple mandate of the Commission- anti-corruption, human rights and the Ombudsman role (fighting injustice).
He said until government decides to establish an independent anti-corruption commission, separate from CHRAJ, anybody appointed as commissioner must try to handle all three mandates with equal attention.
He does not subscribe to neglecting any of the mandates as was practiced under Mrs Lamptey.
Source: myjoyonline.com
