President John Dramani Mahama has suspended the embattled Commissioner of the Commission for Human Rights & Administrative Justice, Ms. Lauretta Vivian Lamptey over corruption and abuse of office allegations levelled against her.
The decision by the President, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Flagstaff House Communications, was based �on the advice of the judicial council, pursuant to article 146(10) (b) of the 1992 constitution.�
The statement, signed by the Chief of Staff, Prosper Bani, stated inter-alia, �the suspension follows the establishment of a prima facie case against Ms. Lamptey by the Chief Justice, and the setting up of a five (5)-member committee to investigate complaints made against her.�
According to the statement, the suspension is to protect the integrity of the enquiry.
Ms. Lamptey has been asked to "hand over her duties to a Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr. Richard Quayson, not later than Friday January 16, 2015," the statement added.
In August last year, Lauretta Lamptey moved into a hotel after her US$5,500 monthly rent for the apartment, including utility bills, at the AU Village expired.
Her official residence, which was previously occupied by her predecessor Justice Francis Emile Short, was at the time being redesigned with several variations at her instance, all at a cost of GH�182,000.
Lamptey, as of late last year was paying 456 dollars a day for her hotel accommodation. In total, about GH�161,302.5 was spent on Lamptey�s stay in the hotel between August and November 2014.
The controversy led to the removal of CHRAJ from a list of Human Rights Commissions for an International study.
"TIMELY"
In a related development, former CHRAJ boss Justice Emile Short has described the suspension of Ms. Lauretta V. Lamptey by President John Mahama as "timely".
He believes the decision will in no way affect the operations of the Commission.
"I think that the announcement is timely given that the recommendation for her suspension was given by the five member judicial committee which looked into the matter,ďż˝ Emile Short told CitiFM in an interview.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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