By Benjamin A. Commey

Accra, June 4, GNA – The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has appealed to the Government for support to complete the rollout of its Electronic Case Management System (ECMS) to enhance justice delivery nationwide.

Despite the procurement of necessary equipment, the rollout has stalled due to the lack of a consultant to network the system across CHRAJ’s regional offices.

Speaking during a familiarisation visit by Madam Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Minister of State for Public Sector Reforms, CHRAJ Commissioner Joseph Whittal described the ECMS as key to harmonising complaints nationwide for efficient tracking and scrutiny.

“One unique feature of the electronic case management system is that the moment you upload a case into the system, it generates a tracking number for the complainant.

“So, the complainant will have that tracking number to track his or her case. Once the consultancy is done, we’ll be able to roll out the ECMS,” he said.

The visit aimed to review ongoing reforms under the Public Sector Reform for Results Project (PSRRP) and the Open Government Partnership (OGP) while identifying opportunities for collaboration.

The PSRRP, funded by the World Bank, is implemented by the Government of Ghana to improve efficiency and accountability in public service delivery.

It supports Ghana’s National Public Sector Reform Strategy (NPSRS) by focusing on selected public institutions, including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Passport Office, CHRAJ, and the Ministry of Transport.

Mr. Whittal praised the project’s impact, citing improvements such as the acquisition of computers, IT gadgets, legal reforms, and staff capacity building.

“I must say it has enhanced a lot of our service delivery, at the case management level,” he noted.

However, he identified logistical constraints such as insufficient computers, printers, internet connectivity at national, regional, and district offices, and the absence of a consultant for the ECMS rollout.

Mr. Whittal stated that only 32 computers and 190 printers were provided through the project, which is inadequate for CHRAJ’s 188 district and 16 regional offices.

He urged the Government to furnish CHRAJ with more computers to enable effective service delivery.

He also called for resources to strengthen staff capacity for improved efficiency.

Madam Akanvariba commended CHRAJ for its progress and encouraged the Commission to scale up initiatives to enhance service delivery.

She highlighted the need to build staff capacity, particularly in the middle and northern belts, to promote equal access to justice nationwide.

“We also want to let them know that we need to give them (staff) a lot of capacity building, especially in the middle and northern belts, so there will be that connection between the middle, the north, and the south.

“That where you are, anywhere you are, you can assess justice,” the Minister said.

She assured CHRAJ of the Government’s commitment to its operations.

“We are going to work in collaboration with the Commission and other projects to ensure they are well-resourced and can carry out their activities,” she added.

GNA

Edited by Kenneth Sackey