Involve CHRAJ In Oil Drilling Process-CDD

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called on the government to involve CHRAJ in all stages of the oil drilling process. It said involving the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) will reduce possible incidence of conflict of interest. Speaking to Joy News, the Governance and Legal Policy Officer of the CDD, Mr Kojo Asante said there was the tendency for some people involved in the drilling process to exploit the situation to their personal benefit. Making CHRAJ part of the process, therefore, will ensure transparency and help reduce corruption in the sector. He said it was important for the government to enforce strictly the conflict of interest rules in all matters relating to the oil find. That he said could be effectively done by fully involving ant-corruption agencies to serve as a check on self-seeking individuals. Mr. Asante emphasised that proceeds from the oil must benefit all Ghanaians. CHRAJ has a mandate to fight corruption by investigating allegations of corruption and conflict of interest among others. In the recent past the commission investigated corruption allegations against a Minister, Dr Richard Anane. It exonerated him of corruption but found him culpable for conflict of interest and perjury and recommended his removal from office. The adverse findings against Dr Anane were however set aside by the Supreme Court citing procedural errors.