Accra, Sept. 15, GNA - The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Friday recommended to President John Agyekum Kufour to relieve Dr Richard Winfred Anane, Minister of Transportation of his post.

This followed findings of abuse of power and conflict of interest made against him by the Commission.

The Commission arrived at the decision following an 18-month investigation into alleged corruption, conflict of interest and abuse of power made against the Dr Anane, who is also MP for Nhyiaso, when he was the Minister of Health.

The ruling of the Commission, read by Ms Anna Bossman, Acting Commissioner, at a packed conference room of the Commission in Accra, cleared the Minister of the allegation of corruption for lack of evidence.

It made findings of abuse of power and conflict of interest against the Minister when he contracted business on behalf of the Government. The Commission recommended that the Minister apologised to the President, the Government of Ghana, Parliament and the people of Ghana. The Commission recommended that public office holders and Government appointees should undergo a course in conflict of interest and that special assistants should be paid from the Consolidated Fund if that position should be maintained.

It also called for the upgrading of the laws if the Government policy of zero tolerance on corruption should work. It extended its appreciati on to all who co-operated with the Commission in its work.

Ms Bossman said the Commission would soon formally present its report the President and the Speaker of Parliament. Lead Counsel for Dr Anane, Mr Jake Acquah-Sampson, speaking to the press, in reaction to the rulings said the findings did not reflect the totality of the evidence and that the Commission was prejudicial, selective, and politically motivated.

He said Dr Anane's team of lawyers would contest aspects of the rulings that were distasteful to their client and added "we believe the Presidency would act maturely" with the rulings.