Retired Human Rights Commissioner, Justice Emile Francis Short says he might consider taking up an appointment as a Human Rights Correspondent for the Super Station Joy FM.

Commissioner short has confirmed his retirement to Joy FM, announced in a statement issued by the presidency on Wednesday, which also acknowledged President Mills acceptance and appointment of Ms Anna Bossman as the acting head of the human rights and anti-corruption institution.

The affable, soft-spoken yet strict civil rights advocate could not hide his joy at retiring after 17 years of dedicated services to the nation in a position as crucial as the Commissioner of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

“I will be keeping my options opened and cards close to my chest. Maybe I will apply to be Human Rights Correspondent for Joy FM,” Justice Short teased when he was asked how he intends spending his now free time while on retirement.

“I will be in the house and resting and taking things easy and listening to Joy FM and all the stations and monitoring the progress of our dear country,” he told Parliamentary Correspondent Sammy Darko.

He said he took the decision to voluntarily retire a month ago and communicated it to the President, John Mills, dismissing suggestions that he was forced out. “Nobody can try to push me out.”

Meanwhile, lawyer Ken Attafuah who worked under Justice Short for many years paid glowing tribute to the retiring commissioner.

“He is extremely conscientious and hardworking,” he told Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoh.

Attafuah was disappointed with news of Justice Short’s retirement even though he still has one more year to go on his years of service.

Asked if the retired commissioner loses his temper, something his demeanour does not exude, Prof Attafuah said he does, but does not react in a buoyant, abrasive manner.

He chronicled the famous Joy FM vrs SSNIT case, corruption allegations against PV Obeng, Ibrahim Adam in 1995, abuse of office allegations against ex-President Kufuor in 2002 as some of the ground-breaking verdicts presided over by Justice Short.

Justice Short, he said will be sorely missed by the Commission.

Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interview.



Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana