Anane, Archer & O’Brien invited to CHRAJ’s hearing

The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has officially written to the Road Transport Minister about its intention to launch an investigation into corrupt allegations in which he is alleged to have transferred huge sums of money to his girlfriend in the USA – with some of the funds allegedly coming from state coffers.

The Commission has finally instituted a panel hearing into the matter.

Editor-In-Chief of The Enquirer, Raymond Archer has been invited to the first sitting of the panel, scheduled for Tuesday, January 10 next year to assist in the investigations.

The invitation inadvertently addressed to Raymond Archer through The Chronicle, advised that the panel hearing had been constituted by CHRAJ following the outcome of its preliminary investigations.

Sources at the CHRAJ hinted that the invitation had also been extended to Dr. Anane and his ex-girlfriend, Ms Alexandra O'Brien (Alexie Anane), who had disclosed the illegal wire transfer of government monies by the former to her.

Dr. Anane was engulfed in controversy in February this year, over publications that he transferred $90,000 to Alexandra O'Brien who bore him a son.

It would be recalled that early this year, the chronicle reported that Dr. Anane had charged two state institutions - the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Roads Transport - for expenses incurred by Ms O'Brien when he traveled to Montreal in Canada, on an official assignment.

According to Alexandra Anane, her minister ex-boyfriend was initially supportive of her and that he had hitherto contributed about $45,000 a year towards the upkeep of their child, but had abandoned his responsibility after an encounter with his wife. Alexie said she had kept all documents in respect of monies she received from Dr. Anane.

She further announced that the minister had assured her of giving $20,000 immediately he awarded a contract to a certain contractor.

Mr. Archer says he is anticipating objective and independent investigations by the CHRAJ.

"Yes I trust them; the fact that they called for a panel hearing means that they are not doing anything in secrecy for anybody to hide, at the end of the day. I know some people do not trust CHRAJ, but having gone through with them for the past few months, I think I will bet my coin over that," he noted.

He said he is more concerned with the allegations bordering on conflict of interest because Dr. Anane had put his interest before that of the nation, a situation that was a very serious crime in the United States of America.

"The nation has put you there with all the resources and the energy to work and you cannot betray the public trust and put your interest first than the national interest," he said.

He said as part of his evidence against Dr. Anane, he had already submitted the minister's bank statement and pay slip to CHRAJ to assist it in its investigations.

All efforts to contact Dr. Anane proved futile because he was not responding to his phone calls.