CHRAJ Boss Rent Reflects Gov’t Poor Regulation Of Public Office Holders

Political science Professor with the KNUST has stated that issues of profligate spending by the CHRAJ boss is a reflection of lapses in government's regulation of public officers.

This follows what has been described as wasteful expenditure after the Commissioner of the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Loretta Vivian Lamptey, allegedly spent over 148 thousand dollars on a rented apartment and hotel accommodation unconcern of the plight of the state institution, which is severely cash-strapped.

Public interest groups including IMANI Ghana, ISODEG, CDD and the Ghana Integrity Initiative have all condemned the development and called for Mrs. Loretta Lamptey to be sacked.

Dr Richard Amoako Baah however believes such calls are merely emotional and inappropriate.

He contends though her actions were unethical, they don't constitute an illegality.

“It is unethical when you supervise an agency that deals with poverty and women and rights and all of that and you don't see that it is not right for your agency to spend this much money for your accommodation but it does not border on illegality,” he insisted.

Dr Amoako Baah is however calling for regulations to be enacted on issues of expenditure on residential accommodation of public office holders.

In the same breath, the Ghana Integrity Initiative has also advocated for an independent administrator to embark on all renovation works on government bungalows and official residences.

The Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Vitus Azeem believes the government should not leave the decision to renovate bungalows to its prospective occupants in future.

Mr. Azeem postulates that the independent body will help save the state from wanton dissipation of state funds as the practice is widespread across government agencies.