Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice
Encyclopedia
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is an independent organisation for the safeguarding of human rights
in Ghana
.
It was established in 1993 by an Act
456 of the Parliament of Ghana
as directed by Article 216 of the 1992 Ghana constitution.
under Article 70 of the Ghanaian constitution. The Commissioner must be qualified to be an Justice of the Appeal Court and the deputies must be eligible to be justices of the High Court
. The first Commissioner was Emile Short
who retired in 2010. The current Commissioner is Lauretta Lamptey
.
CHRAJ serves as an ombusman receiving and dealing with complaints about the proper functioining of public
institutions and to provide redress. It appears it can do same for private entities due to the way Article 218 (c) is written.
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
.
It was established in 1993 by an Act
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
456 of the Parliament of Ghana
Parliament of Ghana
The Parliament of Ghana is the legislative body of the Ghanaian government.-History:Legislative representation in Ghana dates back to 1850, when the country was a British colony. The body, called the Legislative Council, was purely advisory as the Governor exercised all legislative and executive...
as directed by Article 216 of the 1992 Ghana constitution.
Composition
The CHRAJ is made up of a Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice and two Deputy Commissioners. The Commissioner and the two deputies are appointed by the President of GhanaPresident of Ghana
The President of Ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of Ghana. Officially styled President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghanaian Armed Forces. The current President of Ghana is Prof. John Atta Mills, who took office in January...
under Article 70 of the Ghanaian constitution. The Commissioner must be qualified to be an Justice of the Appeal Court and the deputies must be eligible to be justices of the High Court
High Court
The term High Court usually refers to the superior court of a country or state. In some countries, it is the highest court . In others, it is positioned lower in the hierarchy of courts The term High Court usually refers to the superior court (or supreme court) of a country or state. In some...
. The first Commissioner was Emile Short
Emile Short
Emile Francis Short is a Ghanaian judge and academic and the first Commissioner on Human Rights and Administrative Justice in Ghana.Emile Short was called to the Bar in England in 1966. He is also a member of the Bar in Ghana and Sierra Leone. The following year, he obtained a Masters degree in Law...
who retired in 2010. The current Commissioner is Lauretta Lamptey
Lauretta Lamptey
Lauretta Vivian Lamptey is the Ghanaian Commissioner on Human Rights and Administrative Justice. She is a lawyer and an investment banker.-Education:...
.
CHRAJ serves as an ombusman receiving and dealing with complaints about the proper functioining of public
institutions and to provide redress. It appears it can do same for private entities due to the way Article 218 (c) is written.
List of Commissioners
- Emile ShortEmile ShortEmile Francis Short is a Ghanaian judge and academic and the first Commissioner on Human Rights and Administrative Justice in Ghana.Emile Short was called to the Bar in England in 1966. He is also a member of the Bar in Ghana and Sierra Leone. The following year, he obtained a Masters degree in Law...
(1993 — 2010) - Lauretta LampteyLauretta LampteyLauretta Vivian Lamptey is the Ghanaian Commissioner on Human Rights and Administrative Justice. She is a lawyer and an investment banker.-Education:...
(2011 — present)