State of Human Rights in Ghana (2007)
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STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN GHANA (2007) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) acknowledges the contribution of various institutions and individuals in carrying out the state of human rights monitoring activity in 2007. Many thanks go to the various institutions and officers who willingly responded to questions, granted interviews on many topical issues to enrich the activity. The support by the Acting Commissioner (CHRAJ), Ms. Anna Bossman and the Deputy Commissioner (CHRAJ), Mr. Richard Quayson in terms of guidance and the provision of relevant resources are highly appreciated. Particular gratitude goes to staff of the Commission who carried out the monitoring exercise and worked tirelessly to ensure the completion of the report. The team comprised the Deputy Director, Mrs. Lilian Ayete-Nyampong and staff of the Research Unit, namely Messrs Elolo Yao-He- Principal Research Officer, Muhammad Kpakpo Addo-Senior Research Officer, Mawutor Fleku- Research Officer and Mesdames Eugenia Appiah-Senior Research Officer, Josephine Akaba- Senior Research Officer, staff at the regional and district offices, as well as interns and National Service Persons, who served with the Research Unit in 2007. This report would not have been possible without the financial resources provided by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). The Commission expresses sincere gratitude to DANIDA. 1 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ACAT Action by Christians Against Torture APPLE Association of People for Practical Life APT Association for the Prevention of Torture AU African Union BECE Basic Education Certificate Examination CCAG Care and Concern Action Group CCP Community Care Policy CDC Community Development Concern CHRAJ Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice CP Capitation Grant CPI Corruption Perception Index CRS Catholic Relief Services CSO Civil Society Organisations DOVVSU Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit ESCR Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ESR Economic and Social Rights GACC Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition GDACA Ghana Danish Communities Association GDP Gross Domestic Product GES Ghana Education Service GPHA Ghana Ports and Harbor Authority GPRS Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy GPS Ghana Police Service GSPD Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled HAS Health Services Administrator ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ILO International Labor Organization ISODEC Integrated Social Development Centre JHS Junior High School KVIP Kumasi Ventilated Improved Pit MDGs Millennium Development Goals 2 MHOs Mutual Health Organizations MOWAC Ministry Of Women and Children’s Affairs MOEYS Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports MMYE Ministry of Manpower Youth and Employment NADMO National Disaster Management Organization NCCE National Commission on Civic Education NCOM National Coalition on mining NCS National Catholic Secretariat NEPAD New Partnership for African Development NHIS National Health Insurance Scheme OAU Organization of African Unity OPCAT Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture OPD Out Patient Department PLHIV Persons Living with HIV PWDs Persons with Disability RAINS Rains Advisory Information and Network Systems. RUMNED Rural Media Network SMRTP Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners TGH Tema General Hospital THUHDEG Human Help & Development Group TMA Tema Municipal Assembly T V Television T&L Teaching and Learning UNCAC United Nations Convention Against Corruption UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UNHCR United Nations High Commission for Refugees Vol.PHIG Volta Physically Challenged Independent Group WILDAF Women in Law and Development in Africa WFCL Worst Forms of Child Labour WVI World Vision International 3 Table of Content ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................. 1 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ........................................................................... 2 1.1 Preamble by the Commissioner .................................................................................... 5 1.2 Human Rights and Corruption ...................................................................................... 6 1.3 Reports of Police Brutality and Mob Justice ................................................................ 9 1.4 General Status of Cases .............................................................................................. 10 1.5 Promoting Human Rights, Social Justice and Poverty Alleviation ............................ 10 1.6 2007 Monitoring Activity ......................................................................................... 12 1.6.1 Remand Prisoners .................................................................................................... 12 1.6.2 The Right to Housing ............................................................................................... 14 1.6.3 The Right to Health .................................................................................................. 16 1.6.4 The Right to Education ............................................................................................ 17 1.6.5 Children’s Rights ..................................................................................................... 19 1.6.6 Women’s Rights....................................................................................................... 20 1.6.7 The Rights of Refugees ............................................................................................ 21 1.7 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 24 2.0 SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON MONITORING EXERCISE .. 27 3.0 APPENDIX 1 .............................................................................................................. 31 FINDINGS FROM THE REGIONS ................................................................................ 31 3.1 Central Region ............................................................................................................ 31 3.2 Volta Region ............................................................................................................... 32 3.3 Western Region ........................................................................................................... 37 3.4 Tema Sub-Regional Office ......................................................................................... 44 3.5 Upper West Region ..................................................................................................... 49 3.6 Obuasi Sub-Regional Office ....................................................................................... 55 3.7 Eastern Region ............................................................................................................ 59 3.8 Ashanti Region............................................................................................................ 64 3.9 Northern Region.......................................................................................................... 71 3.10 Upper East Region .................................................................................................... 80 3.11 Greater Accra Region ............................................................................................... 86 3.12 Brong-Ahafo Region ................................................................................................. 89 4.0 APPENDIX 2 ............................................................................................................ 102 4 1.0 A REPORT BY THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE (CHRAJ) ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY ( DECEMBER 10TH, 2007) 1.1 Overview by the Commissioner Every year, on December 10, the Commission on Human and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) joins the international community to commemorate International Human Rights Day (IHRD). For the staff at CHRAJ, the celebration this year (2007) has a double significance: first of all, on this day, the United Nations is launching a year long campaign to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 2008. This initiative is to raise awareness of the Declaration and its relevance to everyone and it is also to commemorate its enduring promise of “DIGNITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL OF US”, reinforcing the fact that human rights are inalienable and inherent in all human beings and that every one of us is born equal and free. Therefore every human being must be allowed to live in dignity and justice applied to everyone. One of the main purposes of the Report is to promote dialogue on the state’s responsibility in ensuring that right- based approaches to poverty alleviation, growth and resource allocation are employed in the planning and implementation of policies for vulnerable persons. This year’s celebration is even more significant as Ghana marks 50 years of independence and reflects on how far it has come as a nation, as a people and whether with regard to Human Rights and Social Justice, Ghana @ 50 has indeed come of age. The term “coming of age”, denotes a young person's transition from adolescence to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place and the nature of it, vary in different cultures and societies. Turning 50 for anyone, individual or country is almost synonymous with “coming