Anna Bossman: Code of conduct cardinal to accountability

The Acting Commissioner of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Ms Anna Bossman has described as prudent President Mills' decision to introduce a code of conduct to ensure transparency in the public sector.

President Mills at the state of the nation address to the fifth Parliament of the fourth republic promised to address corruption in the public sector by “elaborating a code of conduct in government that includes key information disclosures, ethics and anti-corruption measures.”

Ms Bossman told Joy News on Thursday that the president's decision was in the right direction.

She also said that appropriate sanctions must be instituted against persons who breech the code.

The human rights activist indicated that although CHRAJ has the mandate to ensure transparency in government, the media and the general public equally have a role to play.

She prayed the president to translate his promises into real working policies to ensure trust in his government.

Reacting to the president's decision to institute a constitutional review committee to consider proposals for constitutional amendment, Ms Bossman said certain rulings by the Supreme Court that are “in the interest of the nation” must also be looked at.

Also among President Mills' three dimensional approach to fighting corruption in the country is ensuring the passage of the freedom of the Information Act and the passage of a national broadcasting law.

“These measures will enable both citizens and statutory constitutional bodies to access the needed information to demand accountability from office-holders in the public and private sector,” President Mills indicated.

Story by Fiifi Koomson