COMMISION ON HUMAN RIGHT AND ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE vs. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND BABA KAMARA [2011]DLSC4125

COMMISION ON HUMAN RIGHT AND ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE vs. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND... [2011]DLSC4125

Date	2011-04-06
Suit No.	WRIT NO. J1/3/2010
Citation No.	[2011]DLSC4125

AKUFFO JSC (PRESIDING)

BROBBEY JSC

DATE-BAH JSC

ANSAH JSC

ADINYIRA [MRS] JSC

ANIN YEBOAH JSC

ARYEETEY JSC

GBADEGBE JSC

AKOTO-BAMFO [MRS.] JSC

THADDEUS SORY FOR THE PLAINTIFF WITH HIM K. O. ACHEAPONG NANA SEKYIWAA AND AMA ADDO – FENING.

SAMUEL CODJOE FOR THE 2ND DEFENDANT.

[2011]DLSC4125
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >COMMISION ON HUMAN RIGHT
AND ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND BABA KAMARA<o:p></o:p>[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<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">

WRIT
NO. J1/3/2010&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DATE: 6TH APRIL, 2011<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>THADDEUS
SORY FOR THE PLAINTIFF WITH HIM K. O.&nbsp;
ACHEAPONG, NANA SEKYIWAA AND AMA ADDO – FENING.<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">

SAMUEL
CODJOE FOR THE 2ND DEFENDANT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p>AKUFFO JSC (PRESIDING), BROBBEY JSC,
DATE-BAH JSC, ANSAH&nbsp; JSC, ADINYIRA [MRS] JSC, ANIN YEBOAH JSC,
ARYEETEY JSC,<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">

GBADEGBE JSC, AND
AKOTO-BAMFO [MRS.] JSC<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>SOPHIA A. B. AKUFFO, JSC<o:p></o:p>On February 8th 2011, we
overruled the preliminary objections raised by the 2nd Defendant
herein and stated that the reasons therefor will be incorporated in our
judgment on the substantive matter. In this opinion, therefore, I will deal
with our reasons for overruling the objection as well express, very briefly, my
views on the substantive matter in respect of which the unanimous decision of
the court is fully reflected in the judgment by our highly esteemed brother,
Dr. Date-Bah, JSC. <o:p></o:p>Brief
Background<o:p></o:p>The background facts of this case
are set out in greater detail in Justice Date-Bah’s judgement, and here, I will
only make reference to such factual details as are, in my view, necessary for
giving adequate perspective to the ruling on the preliminary objection.<o:p></o:p>By a writ filed on May 26th
2010, by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice
(hereinafter referred to as ‘CHRAJ’ or ‘the Plaintiff’) against the Attorney
General (hereinafter referred to as the ‘AG’ or ‘the 1st Defendant)
and Mr. Baba Kamara (hereinafter referred to as ‘the 2nd Defendant’)
the Plaintiff prayed the Court for the following reliefs:-<o:p></o:p>‘a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A declaration that upon a true and
proper construction and/or interpretation of Article 218(e) of the Constitution
... the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice has the mandate
to investigate a private individual, entity and/or person who is alleged to be
involved or implicated in an act of bribery or corruption allegedly committed
(by) a public official or officials and who is/are being investigated by the
Commission.<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A declaration that on a true and proper interpretation of
Article 218(e) of the 1992 Constitution, the mandate of the Commission on Human
Rights and Administrative Justice ‘to investigate all instances of alleged or
suspected corruption and misappropriation of public moneys by officials’ covers
situations in which an individual, entity and/or person though not a ‘public
official’ is alleged to be involved or implicated in an act of alleged bribery
or corruption involving public officials and which is under investigation by
the Commission.’<o:p></o:p>It is not in controversy
that the instant writ arose out of investigative proceedings commenced by CHRAJ
into alleged acts of bribery and corruption involving certain persons who, at
the material times, were public officials, and the 2nd Defendant.
The 2nd Defendant, who at all times material to the matter under
investigation had been a private businessman, challenged the jurisdiction of
CHRAJ to investigate him on the grounds that, by the provisions of Article
218(e) CHRAJ ha</main>