CHRAJ Charges Citizens to Report corrupt Officials

Mr. Solomon Segu Arthur, the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice(CHRAJ) Investigator for Dormaa East District on Tuesday called on Ghanaian citizens not to fear about been victimised after exposing and reporting officials and persons who indulge in any form of wrongdoing and corruption.

Mr. Segu Arthur asked citizens to report those acts of wrongdoing to the appropriate agencies for thorough investigations to be conducted and the necessary action taken.

They include Attorney General’s Department, Auditor General, National Media Commission, CHRAJ, NCCE, Police, traditional rulers and family heads.

He explained that whistleblowers who exposed corruption and wrongdoing enjoyed special immunity, protection and are to be shielded by the state provided such claims they made against individuals fully backed by concrete evidence.

The CHRAJ investigator made the remarks at a public forum jointly organised by the National Commission for Civic Education(NCCE) and the European Union(EU) at Wamfie in the Dormaa East District of the Bono Region.

It was under the theme, “Public Accountability and Environmental Governance”, and attended by heads of department, students of first and second cycle institutions, staff of District Assembly, market women and traders association, Assembly members, chiefs and public servants, members of the public.

Speaking on the subject, whistleblowing mechanism and anti-corruption, the role of a citizen, he indicated that the Whistleblowers Act 720 was enacted in 2006 to check wrongdoing and acts of corruption which were gaining roots in every facets of national life in both the private and public sectors.

Mr. Segu Arthur noted that there was the urgent need to protect national resources which was been plundered by some individuals thirsty for their selfish gains instead of seeking the collective interest of the state.

The CHRAJ District Director explained further that although there were laws before the introduction of the Whistle-blower’s Act, these laws were not biting enough, lacked enforcement because people feared they would be victimised after reporting wrongdoing and corruption.

“Providing proof of claims and concrete evidence was extremely vital in this process due to the fact that people hated other people for no particular reason/s sometimes, ” he observed.

He urged citizens to report any complaints of individual rights abuses, abuse of power, conflict of interest, impropriety, mismanagement of public resources to his outfit for investigation to be carried out.

Mr. Nyarbah Jason, the Environment Health Officer, Dormaa East District, urged them to consult his outfit for specifications and directions on how to treat waste water in their homes to promote good sanitary practices.

“Soak away pit at the back of bathhouses must be constructed five to six feet deep. It must be filled with blocks with all sides plastered with concrete. It must be connected to the main drain and not left to stagnate in the middle of compound houses, ” he added.

He cautioned them against indiscriminate littering and open defecation to prevent outbreak of public health diseases such as cholera, malaria and other harmful diseases.

Mr. Jason urged parents to take up the responsibility of disposing refuse themselves instead of sending or allowing their children, ‘they find it difficult to climb refuse containers with stair cases’.

The Environment Health Officer indicated that unlike formerly, today lots of public education was being embarked on to raise awareness on bad sanitary practices, those who proved recalcitrant with offending attitudes risked prosecution as the law permitted.

Nana Diamono Asamoah Kokoti Kumi, Gyaasehene of Mansen of Dormaa Traditional Area also advised them to lead with honest in both their public and private lives.

By: Robert Tachie Menson