SAMUEL ADONDINO AND MIN. OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS [2001]DLCHRAJ5902

Date	2001-02-12
Suit No.	Our Ref: CHRAJ/146/99/603
Citation No.	[2001]DLCHRAJ5902

BENJAMIN K. OPPONG

[2001]DLCHRAJ5902
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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">SAMUEL ADONDINO <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">MIN. OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS <o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENTS)<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">(CHRAJ)<o:p></o:p>

Our Ref: CHRAJ/146/99/603&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;DATE: 12/02/2001<o:p></o:p>

</div>commissioner:<o:p></o:p>BENJAMIN
K. OPPONG DEPUTY COMMISSIONER LEGAL/OPERATIONS 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>The
complainant stated that he had been in the respondent's employ for 29 years as
a professional driver. He stated that he rose to the rank of Yard Foreman but
was demoted to the rank of Driver Grade 1. The demotion resulted from his
unofficial use of a government vehicle.<o:p></o:p>On
7th November 1998, when following an instruction by a Security officer, he took
a vehicle on an errand and was involved in an accident. He was later dismissed.
He wants his dismissal commuted into termination of appointment in view of his
"29 years of service and out of compassion for my family of seven".<o:p></o:p>The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its
comment relied on the Civil Service Interim Regulations 1960, LI 47, Section 69
to dismiss the complainant.<o:p></o:p>"Where
a disciplinary authority is of the opinion that a pensionable civil servant in
categories B, C or D (1) or a category D (2) Civil Servant has held a civil
service post during the whole of the preceding 12 months should be removed from
the Civil Service or be reduced in rank on grounds of unsatisfactory service,
he shall call on him in writing to show cause why he should not be so removed
or reduced in rank at the same time setting out a brief statement of his reasons
for reaching this opinion, land specifying a day (which shall allow a
reasonable interval for the purpose) by which the Civil Servant shall submit
his reply."<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(iii)"On
receipt of the Civil Servant's reply, if any, the disciplinary authority, after
taking into account the Civil Servant's whole record of service may order his
removal or reduction in rank."<o:p></o:p>On this basis, the respondent stated that
the complainant did not satisfy the burden of proving his innocence. It stated
in his dismissal letter that:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:2.45pt;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">&nbsp;“It is clear that you moved out the car not to
pick staff but only to convey Mr. Osei-Afriyie to purchase drugs."<o:p></o:p>The
respondent stated further that although it was the final misuse of official
vehicle that precipitated his dismissal, he was not dismissed for that single
offence. His removal was for unsatisfactory service.<o:p></o:p>Furthermore,
the respondent stated on an examination of his service record:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">"It
was "replete with numerous serious acts of misconduct which provide more
than enough particulars of unsatisfactory service” for which he had received
various punishments including warnings, suspension, withhold of promotion and
demotion."<o:p></o:p>