Accra,(Greater Accra Region).22, Sept. The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) had as at December 31, last year, disposed of 8,775 (representing 71 per cent) out of 12,409 petitions. Mr Emile Short, CHRAJ Commissioner announced this when delivering a paper on: “The experience of Ghana in the area of administrative control”, at the on-going fifth African regional conference for Ombudsmen. Delegates from 17 African countries and an observer from Pakistan are attending the four-day conference which is under the theme: “The Importance of Administrative Justice in the Democratisation Process in Africa”. Mr Short said the complaints dealt mainly with unlawful arrest and detention, dismissal and termination of appointment, confiscated properties and delays in dispensing justice. The Commission has also investigated cases of alleged or suspected corruption made against certain Ministers and other government appointees, he said. In a summary of its general performance since it was established in October 1993, Mr Short said the Commission also conducted investigations into media reports on children who died as a result of their parents’ refusal to consent to blood transfusion. The Commission has also been instrumental in efforts being made by various institutions and organisations towards the abolition of the ‘Trokosi’ system, Commissioner Short added. Mr Short said as part of its duty to educate the public on their human rights, the CHRAJ has also held several educational programmes including lectures, symposia and workshops in various parts of the country. He stressed that financial constraint has not rpt not made it possible for the CHRAJ to open offices in all the districts, thus denying a large number of Ghanaians, particularly those in the rural areas, access to the Commission. Notwithstanding this constraint, he said, the creation of the CHRAJ has undoubtedly marked an important turning point in the area of administrative control in the country. He said for the first time since independence, one administrative control body succeeded another (Office of the Ombudsman) in 1993 without a break. Mr Short said not rpt not only does the Ghanaian public have confidence in the CHRAJ, but also respondent organisations and individuals hardly fail to implement its rulings. Tracing the history of the office of the Ombudsman in Ghana, Mr Short said much has been achieved since the creation of the CHRAJ but stressed that more needs to be done within the constraints of its circumstances. “With the right environment and resources, the CHRAJ hopes to improve upon the previous attempts made in Ghana’s history in the area of administrative control”, Mr Short said.
