CHRAJ Is Yet To Receive M&J Documents from A-G--Short

The Commissioner, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Justice Emile Francis Short, says the Attorney-General is yet to hand over any relevant documentation concerning investigations by her outfit in the Mabey & Johnson (M&J) scandal.

The Commissioner, however, said even without those germane documents, CHRAJ has already begun investigations into the allegations of bribery leveled against some Ghanaian Ministers and public officials.

“…Let me state that even before the President gave the directive for the A-G to follow-up on the case, we had began our own investigations…so when we receive the relevant documents from the A-G, then we’ll know how the investigations will proceed…but we’re hopeful that at the close of day today or by tomorrow, we’ll have all documents related to the issue,” he told Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo”.

Over the weekend, Health Minister Dr Sipa Yankey, who was a Director at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, at the time of the bribery, resigned whilst Alhaji Amadu Seidu, a Minister of State at the Presidency, who was a Deputy Minister of Works and Housing also tendered in his resignation.

A ruling by a London court cited persons including Dr Yankey, Alhaji Amadu Seidu, Baba Kamara and Boniface Saddique as having taken bribes in the 1990s from officials of Mabey and Johnson, a UK construction firm.

Justice Emile Short gave the assurance that because of CHRAJ’s reputation, balanced investigations will be conducted into the scandal, adding that President Mills’ directive that CHRAJ takes over investigations, was a pointer to the level of confidence reposed in the outfit.

“…since the commission was set-up in 1993, all our works show that we’re very independent, very neutral and impartial. So I believe that because of this status, the President directed the A-G to hand over the investigations to CHRAJ..., “ he stressed.

Source: Alex Ofei/peacefmonline