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Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is an independent governmental organization charged with safeguarding of human rights and investigating human rights abuses in Ghana. It was established in 1993 by Act 456 of the Parliament of Ghana as directed by Article 216 of the 1992 Ghana constitution.[2][3]

Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice
Agency overview
Formed1993
JurisdictionGovernment of Ghana
HeadquartersOld Parliament House, High Street, Accra Ghana
Agency executives
  • Joseph Whittal[1], Commissioner
  • Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner
  • Mercy Larbi, 2nd Deputy Commissioner
Websitechraj.gov.gh

Creation and composition

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The 1992 Ghana Constitution directs the legislature to establish a commission with mandate to be The National Human Rights Institution of Ghana, the Ombudsman of Ghana and an Anti-Corruption Agency and Ethics Office for the Public Service of Ghana. The commission was duly established in 1993 with the passage of the CHRAJ Act, Act 456.[4]

The commission is made up of a commissioner and two deputy commissioners, who are appointed by the President of Ghana under Article 70 of the Ghanaian constitution. The commissioner must be qualified to be a Justice of the Appeal Court and the deputies must be eligible to be justices of the High Court.[2]

The first commissioner was Emile Short who retired in 2010, in 2004 he took an indefinite leave to serve as a Justice at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda,[5] his deputy Anna Bossman served as the acting commissioner in his absence.[6] He resume his post in 2009 and retired in 2010.[7][8] Madam Lauretta Lamptey succeed him .[9] In July 2012, Joseph Akanjoluer Whittal was sworn in by President John Atta Mills as a deputy commissioner.[10] Joseph Whittal was appointed by President Mahama to replace Lauretta Lamptey in 2016.[11]

The commission serves as an ombudsman receiving and dealing with complaints about the proper functioning of public institutions and to provide redress. It appears it can do same for private entities due to the way Article 218 (c) is written.

List of commissioners

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List of commissioners
Commissioner Date Appointed Deputies
Emile Short (1993 — 2010) Jerry John Rawlings Anna Bossman Retired[8]
Anna Bossman (2004 — 2009) John Kufour resigned
Lauretta Lamptey (2011 — 2015 John Evans Atta Mills Joseph Whittal[11] Dismissed[12]
Joseph Whittal (2016 - John Dramani Mahama Richard Quayson[13] / Mercy Larbi[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Online, Peace FM. "CHRAJ Says Demonstration Should Not Be Seen As Troublemaking". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  2. ^ a b "Commission of Human Rights Act, 1993 (Act 456) [Ghana]". UNHCR. 6 July 1993. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  3. ^ emmakd (2023-09-07). "CHRAJ receives 2,369 cases in Tema over 29 years". Ghana Business News. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  4. ^ "Ghana Constitution" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-11-16.
  5. ^ "Judge Emile Francis Short Sworn In | United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda". unictr.irmct.org. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  6. ^ "Anna Bossman: I felt frustrated by ruling on Dr. Anane's case". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  7. ^ Public Agenda (3 August 2009). "Emile Short Resumes Duty Today". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20.
  8. ^ a b "Ghana News :: Emile Short: Maybe I'll apply for a job as Human Rights Correspondent for Joy FM ::: Breaking News | News in Ghana | news". 2010-12-05. Archived from the original on 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  9. ^ "Lauretta Lamptey appointed new CHRAJ Boss". General news. Ghana Home Page. 26 July 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Prez Mills swears-in Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ". General news. Ghana Home Page. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Mahama confirms Joseph Whittal as CHRAJ boss". Ghanaweb.com. GhanaWeb. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Mahama sacks CHRAJ boss Lauretta Lamptey". www.ghanaweb.com. 2015-11-04. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  13. ^ "Fight against corruption is achievable - Mr Quayson". www.ghanaweb.com. 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  14. ^ "Mercy Larbi elevated as deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
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