EMMANUEL AKYEA AND V.R.A. [2000]DLCHRAJ5754

Date	2000-11-10
Suit No.	Our Ref: CHRAJ/159/99/395
Citation No.	[2000]DLCHRAJ5754

CHRIS AKUFFP OPOKU

[2000]DLCHRAJ5754
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B050">EMMANUEL AKYEA<o:p></o:p>(COMPLAINANT)<o:p></o:p>AND<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B050">V.R.A.<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>(CHRAJ)<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

Our
Ref: CHRAJ/159/99/395&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 10/11/2000<o:p></o:p>

</div>COMMISSIONER:<o:p></o:p>CHRIS
AKUFFP OPOKU DEPUTY CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER For: COMMISSIONER<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:center;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">DECISION<o:p></o:p>

</div><a name="_gjdgxs"></a>This complaint is against an alleged
unlawful dismissal. The complainant was until 1998, working as Barman with the
respondent when he was accused of the embezzlement of sales revenue of some ¢14
million. He denied the charge, challenging the amount involved.<o:p></o:p>According to him, as a result of the
challenge, the amount was reduced on three occasions. When it reached
¢8,119,200.00, he was arrested and detained by the police. He said that given
the chance, he could prove that the respondent was still wrong in arriving at
the said figure of ¢8,119,200.00. Therefore, on his release, he appealed to the
respondent to investigate the allegation. He claimed, however, that he was not
given the chance to fully assist with the investigations he himself had
proposed. Consequently, he was dismissed. After his dismissal, he petitioned
the respondent to afford him the chance to prove his innocence but without
success. He, therefore, turned to the Commission for help.<o:p></o:p>The respondent on its part stated that
when it discovered the complainant's involvement in the crime, it gave him the
opportunity to defend himself by bringing him before a Committee of Enquiry. It
was after hearing him that the truth of the allegation was established.<o:p></o:p>The
Commission, as part of its investigations, invited the parties for a hearing,
which duly commenced and was later adjourned to be continued. On the adjourned
date, it was discovered that the complainant had, in the interim, taken the
same matter to court.<o:p></o:p>With
these developments, the Commission was obliged to cease investigating the
complaint in compliance with S. (2) of the Commission on Human Rights and
Administrative Justice Act 1993 {Act 456} which provides:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.25in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">"S.8 (2)(a) The Commission shall not
investigate -<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes">(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
a matter which is pending before a court or judicial
tribunal."<o:p></o:p>Accordingly, the Commission withdraws its
services. The complainant is at liberty to pursue the legal proceedings he has
initiated in court.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>