What I would have done if I were PPA boss – Emile Short

Former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) believes the embattled Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), A.B. Adjei shot himself in the foot.

Justice Francis Emile Short said if he were him he would not have been involved in the award of any contract to any relative or close associate.

“As a public officer, your behaviour must instill public confidence in the performance of your duties, so I will not been involved or allow a contract to be given to someone related to me,” he stated on the Corruption Watch segment on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem programme, Friday.

Justice Short’s comments followed revelations in the latest investigative piece by Manasseh Azure Awuni titled ‘Contracts for Sale.‘

The story revealed Mr Adjei’s involvement in alleged cases of corruption and conflict of interest at the Authority though the PPA boss claimed he was not directly involved in the award of the contracts.

He has since been referred to the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu and CHRAJ.

Sharing his perspective on the matter, Justice Short commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for the prompt action.

He is convinced CHRAJ is the appropriate body for the investigation since it has the Conduct of Public Officers Bill in 2013 to refer to.

The former CHRAJ boss maintained that public officers must value their integrity and not “adopt mediocre standards.”

Just Short maintained that until Ghana raises the integrity bar, the fight against corruption would be an exercise in futility.