Human rights in Ghana

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Human rights are "rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled". Proponents of the concept usually assert that everyone is endowed with certain entitlements merely by reason of being human.[1]

Ghana is a sovereign country in West Africa. It was a British colony until 6th March 1957, when it became the first country, south of the Sahara to gain independence. The fundamental rights of a Ghanaian has been enshrined in the Chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution.[2] Amongst some of the rights protected under the 1992 constitution includes, protection of right of life, personal liberty, slavery and forced labour, protection of privacy of home and other property and protection of fundamental human rights and freedom. It also provides for women and child rights, economic and educational rights. Not only these but also, rights of the sick, rights of the disabled and property rights of spouses.[3]

LGBT rights[edit]

Main article: LGBT rights in Ghana

LGBT rights in Ghana are heavily suppressed.[4] Physical and violent attacks against homosexual people are common, often encouraged by the media and religious and political leaders.[4] Reports of young gay men being kicked out of their homes are also common.[4] Despite the Constitution guaranteeing a right to freedom of speech, of expression, and of assembly to Ghanaian citizens, these fundamental rights are actively denied to LGBT people, especially for those who are homosexual.[4]

Religious freedom[edit]

Further information: Religion in Ghana

The 1992 Constitution depicts that Ghana is a secular state and allows freedom of religion. In the preamble of the constitution , it reads “In the name of the Almighty God, We the people of Ghana in the exercise of our inalienable rights….“ This is also evident in the Ghana population Census report, Christianity accounts for 68.8% of the population, followed by Islam (15.9%) and traditional religion (8.5%). Only 6.1% of respondents claimed to have no religious affiliations. The remaining 0.7 percent of the population is made up of smaller religious groups, such as Buddhism and Eckankar.[5][6] The right to religion belief and practice is guaranteed under Article 21(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, although while the freedom to believe is essentially unrestricted, the exercise of the belief is subject to restrictions in the interest of public safety, morality, etc. This is protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights' (ICCPR) Article 18 guarantee. Article 26 of the Constitution, which enables the exercise of customary practices with the qualification that any customary practice that violates the rights of any individual will be forbidden.[7]

Further information: Media of Ghana

Although the constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press, the government sometimes restricts those rights. In 2010, the police arbitrarily arrest and detain journalists.[8] Some journalists practise self-censorship. In 2012, the constitution prohibits arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, and the government respects these prohibitions in practice.[9]

In 2002 the government of Ghana censored Internet media coverage of tribal violence in Northern Ghana.[10]

In 2023, the country was scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom.[11]

Prison conditions[edit]

Further information: Ghana Prisons Service
The almost 400 years old James Fort Prison in Accra was in use as a prison until 2008. It was originally built for 200 slaves, but housed over 740 male and female prisoners.[12]

Squalid conditions, poor food, and overcrowding in Ghana's prisons were called "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment," by the UN in 2013.[13] The extent of prison overcrowding is estimated to be higher than the government's official figures.[13] Prison authorities use a system where inmates known as "black coats" whip other misbehaving prisoners with canes.[13]

Historical situation[edit]

The following chart shows Ghana's ratings since 1972 in the Freedom in the World reports, published annually by Freedom House. A rating of 1 is "most free" and 7 is "least free".[14]1 In the 2020s, the Freedom in the World reports are rated from 1 to 4.[15]

There also follows a list of treaties agreed by the government authorities.

Year Political Rights Civil Liberties Status President2
1972 6 6 Not Free Kofi Abrefa Busia
1973 7 Ignatius Kutu Acheampong
1974 5
1975
1976
1977 6 5 Partly Free
1978 5 4
1979 4 Fred Akuffo
1980 2 3 Free Hilla Limann
1981 6 5 Not Free
19823 Jerry Rawlings
1983
1984 7 6
1985
1986
1987
1988 6
1989 5
1990
1991 6
1992 5 5 Partly Free
1993 4
1994
1995 4
1996 3
1997 3
1998
1999
2000 2 3 Free
2001
2002 John Kufuor
2003 2
2004
2005 1
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010 John Atta Mills
2011
2012
2013 John Dramani Mahama
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018 Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
2019 2
2020
2021
2022
Year Political Rights Civil Liberties Overall score Status President2
2023 4 3 80% Free Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Treaty Organization Introduced Signed Ratified
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide[16] United Nations 1948 - 1958
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination[17] 1966 1966 1966
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights[18] 1966 2000 2000
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights[19] 1966 2000 2000
First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights[20] 1966 2000 2000
Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity[21] 1968 - 2000
International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid[22] 1973 - 1978
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women[23] 1979 1980 1986
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment[24] 1984 2000 2000
Convention on the Rights of the Child[25] 1989 1990 1990
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty[26] 1989 - -
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families[27] 1990 2000 2000
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women[28] 1999 2000 2011
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict[29] 2000 2003 2014
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography[30] 2000 2003 -
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities[31] 2006 2007 2012
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities[32] 2006 2007 2012
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance[33] 2006 2007 -
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights[34] 2008 2009 -
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure[35][36] 2011 2013 -

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

1.^ Note that the "Year" signifies the "Year covered". Therefore the information for the year marked 2008 is from the report published in 2009, and so on.
2.^ As of January 1.
3.^ The 1982 report covers the year 1981 and the first half of 1982, and the following 1984 report covers the second half of 1982 and the whole of 1983. In the interest of simplicity, these two aberrant "year and a half" reports have been split into three year-long reports through interpolation.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Feldman, David (1993). Civil liberties and human rights in England and Wales. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-19-876232-4.
  2. ^ "Ghana's Constitution of 1992 with Amendments through 1996" (PDF). Constitution Project. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  3. ^ The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992. Ghana: Assembly Press. 1996. pp. 12–17.
  4. ^ a b c d "Human Rights Violations Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) People in Ghana: A Shadow Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-11-18. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  5. ^ Date Baah, S.K. "Religion, Human Rights and Democracy in the Ghanaian Context" (PDF). Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  6. ^ RefWorld
  7. ^ Quashigah, Kofi. "Religion and the Secular State in Ghana" (PDF). Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Ghana 2010 report". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
  9. ^ "Ghana 2012 report", Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 25 March 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Ghana Internet Censorship 2008". NIBII. 15 December 2008. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  11. ^ Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-03
  12. ^ "UN official: Ghana jails cruel and inhuman". www.prisonministryghana.org. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  13. ^ a b c "Ghana Prison Conditions".
  14. ^ Freedom House (2012). "Country ratings and status, FIW 1973-2012" (XLS). Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  15. ^ Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-3
  16. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 1. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Paris, 9 December 1948". Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  17. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 2. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. New York, 7 March 1966". Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  18. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. New York, 16 December 1966". Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  19. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 4. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New York, 16 December 1966". Archived from the original on 1 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  20. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 5. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New York, 16 December 1966". Archived from the original on 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  21. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 6. Convention on the non-applicability of statutory limitations to war crimes and crimes against humanity. New York, 26 November 1968". Archived from the original on 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  22. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 7. International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. New York, 30 November 1973". Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  23. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 8. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. New York, 18 December 1979". Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  24. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 9. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. New York, 10 December 1984". Archived from the original on 8 November 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  25. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11. Convention on the Rights of the Child. New York, 20 November 1989". Archived from the original on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  26. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 12. Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. New York, 15 December 1989". Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  27. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 13. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. New York, 18 December 1990". Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  28. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 8b. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. New York, 6 October 1999". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  29. ^ United Nations. "UN Treaty Body Database: Ratification Status for Ghana". Retrieved 1 Feb 2021.
  30. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11c. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. New York, 25 May 2000". Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  31. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 15. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York, 13 December 2006". Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  32. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 15a. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York, 13 December 2006". Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  33. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 16. International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. New York, 20 December 2006". Archived from the original on 2019-07-17. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  34. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 3a. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. New York, 10 December 2008". Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
  35. ^ "United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  36. ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11d. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure . New York, 19 December 2011. New York, 10 December 2008". Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.

External links[edit]

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