CHAPTER
018
THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE REBUPLIC OF GHANA 1992
COMMISSION
ON HUMAN RIGHTS
AND
ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE
216 There
shall be established by Act of Parliament within six months after
Parliament first meets after the coming into force of this Constitution,
a Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice which shall
consist of -
(a)
a Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice; and
(b)
two Deputy Commissioners for Human Rights and Administrative Justice
217 The
President shall appoint the members of the Commission under article
70 of this Constitution.
218 The
functions of the Commission shall be defined and prescribed by Act
of Parliament and shall include the duty.
(a)
to investigate complaints of violations of fundamental rights and
freedoms, injustice, corruption, abuse of power and unfair treatment
of any person by a public officer in the exercise of his official
duties;
(b)
to investigate complaints concerning the functioning of the Public
Services Commission, the administrative organs of the State, the
Armed Forces, the Police Service and the Prisons Service in so far
as complaints relate to the failure to achieve a balanced structuring
of those services or equal access by all to the recruitment of those
services or fair administration in relation to those service;
(c)
to investigate complaints concerning practices and actions by persons,
private enterprises and other institutions where those complaints
allege violations of fundamental rights and freedoms under this
Constitution.
(d)
to take appropriate action to call for the remedying, correction
and reversal of instances specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c)
of this clause through such means as are fair, proper and effective,
including -
(i)
negotiation and compromise between the parties concerned;
(ii)
causing the complaint and its finding on it to be reported to the
superior of an offending person;
(iii)
bringing proceedings in a competent Court for a remedy to secure
the termination of the offending action or conduct, or the abandonment
or alteration of the offending procedures; and
(iv)
bringing proceedings to restrain the enforcement of such legislation
or regulation by challenging its validity if the offending action
or conduct is sought to be justified by subordinate legislation or
regulation which is unreasonable or other wise ultra vires;
(e) to investigate
all instances of alleged or suspected corruption and the misappropriation
of public moneys by officials and to take appropriate steps, including
reports to the Attorney-General and the Auditor-General, resulting
from such investigations;
(f)
to educate the public as to human rights and freedoms by such means
as the Commissioner may decide, including publications, lectures
and symposia; and
(g)
to report annually to Parliament on the performance of its functions.
219 (1)
The powers of the Commission shall be defined by Act of Parliament
and shall include the power
(a)
to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of any person before
the Commission and the production of any document or record relevant
to any investigation by the Commission.
(b)
to cause any person contemptuous of any such subpoena to be prosecuted
before a competent Court;
(c)
to question any person in respect of any subject matter under investigation
before the Commission;
(d) to require any person to disclose truthfully and frankly any
information within his knowledge relevant to any investigation by
the Commissioner.
(2)
The Commissioner shall not investigate-
(a)
a matter which is pending before a court or judicial tribunal; or
(b)
a matter involving the relations or dealings between the Government
and any other Government or an international organisation; or
(c)
a matter relating to the exercise of the prerogative of mercy.220
An Act of Parliament
enacted under article 216 of this Constitution shall provide for
the creation of regional and district branches of the Commission.
221 A
person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Commissioner
or a Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice,
unless he is -
(a)
in the case of Commissioner, qualified for appointment as a Justice
of the Court of Appeal; and
(b)
in the case of a Deputy Commissioner, qualified for appointment as
a Justice of the High Court.222
The Commissioner
and Deputy Commissoners shall not hold any other public office.
223 (1)
The Commissioner and deputy Commissioners shall enjoy the terms
and conditions of service of a Justice of the Court of Appeal and
High Court respectively.
(2)
The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners shall cease to hold office
upon attaining the ages of seventy and sixty-five years respectively.224
Where the Commissioner
dies, resigns or is removed from office or is for any other reason
unable to perform the functions of his office, the President shall,
acting in consultation with the Council of State, appoint a person
qualified to be appointed Commissioner to perform those functions
until the appointment of a new Commissioner.
225 Except
as provided by this Constitution or by any other law not inconsistent
with this Constitution the Commission and the Commissioners shall,
in the performance of their functions, not be subject to the direction
or control of any person or authority.
226 The
appointment of officers and other employees of the Commission shall
be made by the Commission acting in consultation with the Public
Services Commission.
227 The
administrative expenses of the Commission including salaries, allowances
and pensions payable to, or in respect of, persons serving with
the Commission, shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund.
228 The
procedure for the removal of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners
shall be the same as that provided for the removal of a Justice
of the Court of Appeal and a Justice of the High Court respectively
under this Constitution.
229 For
the purposes of performing his functions under this Constitution
and any other law, the Commissioner may bring an action before any
court in Ghana and may seek any remedy which may be available from
that court
230 Subject
to the provisions of this Constitution and to any Act of Parliament
made under this Chapter, the Commission shall make, by constitutional
instrument, regulations regarding the manner and procedure for bringing
complaints before it and the investigation of such complaints. |