The Committee on Independent Constitutional Bodies has held a stakeholder engagement with the Independent Constitutional Bodies to assess their adherence to established guidelines and review their financial management performance.
Appearing before the Committee were the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and the National Media Commission (NMC).
Members of the Committee were taken through presentations on the mandates, operational frameworks, scope of responsibilities, and budget performance of the institutions.
The institutions also highlighted some of the challenges affecting their operations.
Committee members raised questions on issues including internal review mechanisms, funding arrangements, administrative structures, and leadership practices.
The Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Dr. Joseph Akanjolenur Whittal, explained that the Commission currently has offices in only 182 districts across the country to administer justice.
He noted that CHRAJ is determined to extend its presence to all 261 districts nationwide.
The Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), George Sarpong, highlighted challenges confronting the media landscape, describing it as not entirely free from governmental influence and institutional harassment.
He called on the Committee to consider measures to address these concerns.
The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Madam Kathleen Addy, said the Commission is grappling with limited office space, staff retention challenges, and inconsistencies in budget allocations.
According to her, the Commission only experiences an increase in budgetary allocations during election years.
The Acting Chairman of the Committee on Independent Constitutional Bodies and Member of Parliament for Tema East, Hon. Isaac Ashai Odamtten, assured the institutions that the Committee would present their concerns to Parliament and work towards having them addressed.
He also thanked the institutions for appearing before the Committee.
