Charles Ayamdo, the Director of Anti-Corruption at the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), has cautioned authorities or individuals to desist from withholding information or disclosure by whistleblowers, as it can lead to severe sanctions and punishment of not less than a two-year jail term, if found capable.
He assured whistleblowers of the necessary compensation and protection against victimisation and also prudent for the citizenry to know that the Act provided a framework for individuals to disclose information of public interest that related to unlawful or illegal conduct for action.
This was contained in his presentation on ‘The role of the Commission in the implementation of the Whistleblower Act’ at a sensitisation and education workshop on the Whistleblower Act 2006 (Act 720) in Accra.
Mr Ayamdo was, however, unhappy that most citizens were unaware of the Whistleblower Act 2006 (Act 720) which also provided for disclosures on procurement breaches that were likely to occur.
Asiamah Sarpong, a state attorney, gave a detailed presentation on the Whistleblower Act 2006 (Act 720) while an official from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Abdul Latif Alhassan, took them through the procurement regulations.
Alhaji Suleiman Ahmed, the Chief Director of CHRAJ, called on communities without police stations or security facility, to report corrupt practices to their traditional authorities, opinion leaders, district chief executives or any local lawmaker.
He intimated that it would help and assist the commission to reach out and investigate the complaints to ensure justice is served and observed that “it is important to have such key stakeholder fora to conscientise all concerned, to help, assist and support in the fight against corruption”.
Alhaji Ahmed reiterated the need for “the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan document which constitutes a national framework for combating corruption, to promote visible growth and development across the country,” and stressed that “the state institutions have key roles as embedded in the document to implement so as collectively, we can fight corruption”. -myjoyonline.com
