A petition on the declaration of his assets and liabilities filed against the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, has been dismissed.
The petition was filed in December by a private citizen, Mensah Thompson, at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
However, CHRAJ dismissed the petition, saying the Chief Justice complied with Article 286 of the constitution by declaring his assets and liabilities to the Auditor General.
The complaint
Mensah Thompson, executive director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), wanted CHRAJ to force Justice Anin-Yeboah to declare his assets.
He argued that the Chief Justice had not declared his assets and liabilities as required by law before ascending to his current position.
By not disclosing his assets, Thompson said, the respondent had acted contrary to Article 286 of the 1992 constitution.
Ruling
However, CHRAJ dismissed the petition, explaining that Justice Anin-Yeboah had in fact declared his assets and liabilities to the Auditor General.
The Commission said its investigations showed that the declaration was made properly, though the submission was late.
“The Commission is of the considered view that, having found that the respondent has complied with Article 286, the appropriate action in the circumstances would be to dismiss the complaint as overtaking, unsubstantiated, and not made out. The complaint is accordingly dismissed,” the Commission ruled.
It added: “We must add however that the Commission recognises that the schedule of a Justice of a Supreme Court and other high-ranking public officials can be very demanding and could sometimes occasion lapses in some areas of their work.
“However, that is not to excuse a person indefinitely from his or her duty under the law.”
E A Alanore
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