Human Rights Commission begins investigations on Food and Drugs Board boss

Mr. Justice Emile Short, Commissioner of Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) last week-end said the Commission was in the process of investigating alleged corruption charges against Dr. Stephen Opuni, Chief Executive Officer of Food and Drugs Board (FDB).

In an interview with newsmen in Accra, Mr. Short said CHRAJ had received a petition from the Progressive Nationalist Forum and therefore initiated the investigations.

“We have received the petition and referred it to the Chief Investigator who has begun investigations,” he said.

The Forum, a pressure group, in their petition signed by Mr. Richard Kwasi Nyamah, President, said it had accurate and detailed information that showed possible abuse of public office and malfeasance in FDB.

It noted that between July and September 2009, Dr. Opuni rented a residential accommodation at Kanda, a suburb of Accra, at a cost of 3,500 dollars per month, and pressurized the management to pay two years advance bill of 84,000 dollars.

The Forum contended that the transaction took place under circumstances which suggested possible corruption since it was done without the authorization of the Governing Board of FDB.

It said Dr. Opuni was involved in the increase of the rent charges for the FDB office from 7,000 dollars per month to 12,000 dollars a month, also a transaction undertaken without the authorization of the Governing Board of FDB.

“Since Dr. Opuni assumed office, transactions and activities of the FDB had been done without recourse to the Governing Board, raising serious queries about their appropriateness and hinting of serious irregularities. These included closure of shops, banning of products and the procurement of a Land Cruiser for his use,” it said.

Source: GNA