GBA Turns Against CHRAJ Boss

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has charged government to investigate circumstances under which thousands of dollars were spent on the accommodation of the Commissioner of the Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). The CHRAJ boss, Lauretta Lamptey, who is also a lawyer, has come under fire for spending over $180,000 to rent an apartment at the AU village while her official residence was under renovation at an exorbitant cost to the state. The Progressive Nationalist Forum (PNF) and the Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh have separately submitted their petitions to the Presidency for the President to begin processes to impeach her. Others have called on her to honourably resign for bringing the name of the Commission into disrepute. Addressing the association�s annual conference held in Cape Coast, in the Central Region on Tuesday, the GBA President, Nene Amegatcher indicated that the Association is concerned about the reports on the conduct of Ms Lamptey who oversees the most respected anti-corruption institution in Ghana. He said �an urgent investigation into the matter to establish the truth or otherwise of the case must be done.� The GBA President appealed to government and public officials to focus on the development of the country rather than devising means and ways to enrich themselves. �The GBA encourages persons at the helm of affair to focus on the development of Ghana rather than on how they can manipulate state institutions to their advantage.� He called for the institution of a non-partisan long-term framework to address the fundamental economic problems the nation is facing.