MP pushes for fresh investigation into fraud allegations against CHRAJ boss

A member of the Special Budget Committee of Parliament is pushing for fresh investigations into allegations of abuse of office leveled against the Commissioner of CHRAJ, Lauretta Lamptey.

According to Frank Annor Dompreh the committee has information that suggests the head of Ghana's human rights commission has failed to account for $50,000 advanced to her in 2013 by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) for the organisation of a number of human rights programmes.

Frank Annor Dompreh who is also the Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri has told Joy News the situation has compelled some donor organisations to withdraw support to CHRAJ.

"Besides her incompetence and alleged abuse of office and fraud, she is also casting a slur on the image of CHRAJ", said Annor Dompreh, who has also petitioned the President on the alleged fraud and abuse of office by Ms Lamptey.

It has emerged that the embattled Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Ms Lauretta Vivian Lamptey, is still paying more than $400 a day at a hotel in Accra, months after her rent expenditure sparked public outcry and condemnation.

Although she is expected to respond to two petitions to President John Mahama on her alleged abuse of office, Ms Lamptey is yet to do so.

She was expected to respond by November 14, 2014.
Meanwhile Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Samson Ahi, says the ministry is not responsible for the renovation of the official residence of the CHRAJ boss. 

The CHRAJ boss maintains she is living in a hotel because her official residence is being renovated -- a process that has been going on for more than 33 months.

Public disgust over Ms Lamptey's rent expenditure stems from the fact that, being at the same rank as an Appeals Court judge, Ms Lamptey is spending in excess of her legally accepted rented allowance.

Ms Lamptey has reportedly spent $148,000 on rent for 33 months.

Additionally, she has spent $180,000 on the renovation her official residence.

Ms. Lamptey was not supposed to spend more than $350 a month on her rent, the stipulated rent allowance for Appeals Court judges.