The Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has said it is dismayed about news of the resignation of Anna Bossman, Acting Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), from the institution.
�Ms. Anna Bossman�s departure deals a mortal blow to CHRAJ as an institution, and an even bigger blow to the nation�s perennial battle against corruption, human rights abuses, and administrative injustices,� it said.
A news release issued in Accra by the CDD said, �Coming in the wake of the retirement of Justice Francis Emile Short as Chair of the Commission, the resignation of Ms. Bossman further compounds the daunting task of prosecuting the Fourth Republic�s public accountability, anti-corruption, public protection, and good governance agenda, which has but stagnated.�
CDD stated that the development also drew attention to �the long-standing but anomalous and dangerous practice in which our Presidents have kept, in a state of uncertainty, occupants of top positions in some key state governance institutions perpetually in acting capacities, particularly those whose functions include �policing� the Presidency and the government at large�.
It said regardless of the cause, Ms. Bossman�s resignation should draw attention to the urgent need to adopt �a constitutional, statutory, or even a sensible convention limiting the length of time allowed for keeping appointees to these state governance watchdog institutions in �acting� capacities�.
It further said Ms. Bossman had been kept in the professionally uncomfortable position of �acting� chair of CHRAJ for nearly a decade by two administrations, adding, �Keeping officials of such important institutions in limbo as �acting� cannot be good for the security of their tenure and self-confidence.�
It said it also exposed occupants of such positions and the institutions to the direct and indirect manipulation of governments for their own and partisan advantage, saying, �This is patently offensive to the public interest.�
�CDD-Ghana calls on the Mills administration to quickly fill this and other vacancies in the top hierarchy of CHRAJ, guided by the same spirit that informed previous governments in appointing the inestimable Mr. Emile Short and Ms. Anna Bossman to the leadership of CHRAJ, a state institution so strategic to the advancement of the good governance agenda in Ghana�s Fourth Republic.
�We also trust that the government would not succumb to the temptation to fill this and other leadership vacancies at CHRAJ and any other key governance institution with persons with the requisite qualifications but not sufficiently politically neutral or seemingly qualified persons but who are likely to become state puppets,� it stated.
CDD said the credibility of the leadership of CHRAJ and similar public accountability institutions would be much enhanced if the appointing authorities were to come to an agreement to make the parliamentary approval of the President�s nominees for these positions subject to a super majority of votes, instead of the normal simple majority.
It said the crisis at CHRAJ presented �a fine opportunity for the Mills administration to reaffirm its commitment to prosecuting the fledgling national anti-corruption, public protection and human rights agenda.�
It added, �We deeply appreciate and applaud the invaluable services she rendered to Ghana�s human rights, anti-corruption, and good governance agenda during her tenure at CHRAJ and we wish her well in her future endeavors.�
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