Ghana’s human rights record poor - Oye

A Human Rights lawyer, Nana Oye Lithur, has accused government of not doing enough to defend and protect the human rights of Ghanaians.
Nana Lithur, who is also the Country Coordinator of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative in Ghana, said many human rights violations persist and law enforcing agencies like the police and military are often culpable of human rights abuse.
Over the next two weeks, Accra will host the 41st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. Government officials and civil society organizations from 53 African countries are expected to attend the Session, which will focus on topical human rights and reproductive health issues such as the situation in Zimbabwe and female genital mutilation.
“African governments have not shown much commitment to promoting human rights…Ghana can do a lot more than it’s doing now. We have still not inculcated the culture of human rights. The issue of human rights violation in mining areas of Ghana is of very great concern,” she said.
However, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey disagrees with her position.
He told Joy News that Ghana is playing a leading role in adherence to human and people’s rights. According to him, several instances attest to the country’s commitment to human rights.
“In our own adherence to human and people’s rights that is why today we are chairing the African Union,” he said.