The High Court presided by the learned Bernard Bentil J. has ordered the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to furnish Mr. Wilberfoce Asare with steps taken on his petition filed at the Commission against the Minister of Finace, Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson on the discriminatory payment of ex-gratia for himself and former MPs, leaving out the judiciary, erstwhile members of the executive and others.

In the decision of the High Court delivered on the 11th day of May, 2026, the Court dismissed the mandamus application filed against CHRAJ but in the spirit of transparency gave orders directed at CHRAJ to be complied with within 10 day from the 11th day of May, 2026.

The Petition to CHRAJ calling for investigations by the ombudsman into the conduct of the Honourable Finance Minister, Hon. Ato Forson are on grounds of conflict of interest, discrimination, unfair and unreasonable administrative conduct and abuse of discretionary power in payment of ex-gratia for article 71 holders.

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Per the petition of Mr. Asare filed and received at CHRAJ as far back as the 19th day of December, 2026, the petitioner claims that the Finance Minister has paid himself and members of Parliament their ex-gratia but has refused to pay members of the Council of State, the judiciary and former members of the executive. A copy of the complaint as attached to the mandamus application by the learned Eric Dawda on behalf of the Applicant-Senior Journalist may be read below.

Mandamus to compel CHRAJ

With a void in feedback from CHRAJ on the petition against the Finance Minister, Mr. Asare through Counsel, Eric Dawda Esq. filed a mandamus application to compel CHRAJ to investigate the Finance Minister.

The Court after hearing the motion refused the mandamus application on grounds that CHRAJ, respondent to the motion had taken steps to write to the Minister to reply to the allegations. CHRAJ however failed to write back to the Applicant on the steps taken or even acknowledge receipt of the complaint of the Applicant in the matter reported as THE REPUBLIC v. COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE, EX PARTE WILBERFORCE ASARE [TLP-HC-2026-14].

Despite dismissing the mandamus motion, the Court held the view that "the court is not blind to the Applicant's frustration. Administrative fairness demands that once a public body accepts a complaint and begins to act, the complainant should not be left in a vacuum. A person who invokes a public institution is entitled to be kept reasonably informed of what is happening with the matter that concerns him"

The Court consequently ruled as follows: "while the application for mandamus must be dismissed, the court will make a measured order to ensure transparency. The Respondent shall, within seven (7) days of this Ruling, furnish the Applicant with a written update setting out the steps taken so far on the complaint, including any response received from the other party and the next steps it intends to take"

Click here for full ruling of the Court delivered on the 11th of May, 2026 as reported on The Law Platform case report.

See the complaint of Wilberforce Asare against Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson filed with CHRAJ as attached to his mandamus application below: