CHRAJ charges president Kufuor

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) says President Kufuor has placed himself in a conflict of interest position by chairing the Bui Dam Authority Board.

CHRAJ was echoing concerns raised by the minority in Parliament that the president's position as the Chairman of the board was unconstitutional.

The acting Commissioner of CHRAJ, Ms Anna Bossman told Joy News that constitutionally the president cannot hold any position of profit.

The Act establishing the Bui Authority Board provides that members of the board are entitled to emoluments.

But Ms. Bossman says the president's position as the appointing authority made it inappropriate for him to chair the board.

She said the president should advise and excuse himself from the board.

A constitutional lawyer, Nana Asante Bediatuo however disagreed with the commission arguing there was no wrong doing on the part of the president.

He said Article 58 (3) of the Constitution vests in the president the power to appoint people to act on his behalf or choose to act himself.

For him if the president considers the Bui Dam an important project and chooses to chair its board to ensure its success, there is nothing wrong with it.

He said the National Security Council for example is chaired by the president but that does not amount to a breach of the Constitution.

He said the legal arguments being raised on the issue were unsustainable.

Story by Malik Abass Daabu