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Members of the minority in Parliament want the government to be bold enough to tackle the perpetrators of violence against journalists in the country.
The minority raises questions about Ghana in the United States. The 2019 report on human rights calls on the government to take the necessary measures to combat violence and harbadment of journalists.
"It is disturbing that the report mentions 17 attacks against journalists." It is disturbing that this trend of intolerance and hatred of journalists who report wrongdoing in this government worsens … ", says the press release
This was in a press release signed by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of the hierarchy, a member of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.
The statement also calls for action on other relevant issues, including the tragic killing by police of 7 Asawase Zongo Youth, arduous and dangerous conditions of detention, self-defense groups, the dismissal of Charllotte Osei, corruption and lack of transparency of the government.
MINORITY ASKS FOR SINCERE AND DETERMINED ACTION ON THE 2019 REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES
The minority of the Parliament of Ghana has fulfilled its constitutional mandate and has shown itself up to the demands of a conscientious and responsible opposition, following the publication of the 2019 Human Rights Report by the United States of America.
The report that was presented in Washington, DC yesterday, March 13, 2019 by US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo must be of interest to all of us as we strive to anchor good governance and respect for basic human rights as set out in Chapter 5 of Ghana's 1992 Constitution.
The minority agrees with Secretary of State Pompeo that "by stating abuses and putting pressure on non-compliant regimes, we can influence change." We expect, however, that this shared responsibility will be pursued through objective, unbiased and non-biased mechanisms as we all work to build a just and equitable world.
Although this report covers some 200 countries, we will highlight the following points raised specifically in Ghana's report:
1) The tragic murder by the police, in July 2018, of seven Asawase Zongo youths near Kumasi:
As we know, the Akufo-Addo administration opened an investigation following a public outcry, which showed that there was no evidence that young men were thieves armed forces claimed by the police and for which the families of the victim had been compensated. the authors have not yet been brought to justice.
The minority urges the government to act quickly to ensure justice in this case.
We also call on the Government to pay attention to several cases of police brutality, corruption, neglect and impunity, documented in the report, with a view to eliminating this combined chancre and preserving Ghana's image.
2) Penal conditions that are painful and dangerous for life:
The report indicates that in September 2018, 14,985 prisons in Ghana were serving 9,875 prisoners. This has aggravated the difficult conditions leading to overcrowding, food shortages, poor sanitation and lack of medical care.
30 prisoners were reported to have died in September 2018 because of these circumstances.
The minority calls on the government to continue the prison reform program of former president Mahama, which provided for the expansion of premises without further delay.
3) Violence and harbadment of journalists:
It is disturbing that the report brings to light 17 cases of attacks against journalists. The incident of Joy FM reporter, Latif Idrissu, who fractured his skull when he was brutalized at the police headquarters is also documented, the report denouncing the lack of implementation government update.
We must see the government bringing perpetrators of violence against journalists to justice. It is troubling to note that this trend of intolerance and hatred towards journalists who report wrongdoing in this government is worsening as Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Manbadeh Azuri Awuni become the latest victims. At this rate, we shudder to imagine what the 2020 Human Rights Report would contain.
It should be noted that the MP of the NPP who revealed the identity of the murdered clandestine journalist is mentioned in vain in the report.
4) Groups of vigils:
The Ghanaian report, in what must be troubling, highlights: "post-election violence, including the takeover of government institutions by self-defense groups badociated with the victorious New Patriotic Party".
The minority hereby reiterates its call for the necessity to dissolve NOW all the self-defense militias / parties. President Akufo-Addo must lead from the front and not from the back as he has attempted by asking party leaders to dialogue.
5) Dismissal of Charlotte Osei:
The report states unequivocally: "The dismissal of the president of the electoral commission in June and the subsequent stacking of the electoral commission by the president with people considered to be in favor of the ruling party have raised questions as to whether this organ could be used to stifle voter registration among voters. " basis of opposition ".
Clearly, President Akufo-Addo and the new Commissioners of the EC should realize that the United States and the international community are watching them closely and that they even know what they can do well.
It is also clear that the world has taken note of the unfair treatment of Charlote Osei, who responded to pre-election threats by some influential members of the NPP, setting a bad precedent.
6) Corruption and lack of transparency of the government:
A text excerpt from the report – "The law provides for criminal sanctions for corruption by government officials, but the government did not apply it effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. There are numerous reports of government corruption during the year, and according to the media and NGOs, corruption was present in all branches of government and various national and international investigations, such as world and Afrobarometer of the World Bank, have highlighted the prevalence of corruption in the country. "
The minority hopes that President Akufo-Addo's infamous bias as a clearing agent will now give way to a sincere and resolute effort to fight corruption, as the world does not seem to be impressed by his hollow rhetoric about the fight against corruption. threat.
7) Other areas of concern:
"Female bad mutilation / female bad mutilation was significantly higher in the Upper East region, with a prevalence rate of 27.8%, compared to the national rate of 3.8%."
"Early and forced child marriage, although illegal, remains a problem, with 34% of girls living in the three northern regions of the country marrying before the age of 18. Until September, the CHRAJ was seizure of 18 cases of early or forced marriage. "
"Children as young as four years old have been subjected to forced labor in agriculture, fishing and mining, including in informal gold mines, and as domestic workers , peddlers and quarry workers A child protection and protection NGO estimated at 100,000 Children were prisoners of forced labor and almost half of them were working in the Volta region where, in the fishing industry, they were performing dangerous work, such as diving into deep water to unravel fishing nets caught on submerged tree roots. does not legally recognize work under the Water as a form of hazardous work. "
These three dreadful situations should leave traces on our collective consciousness.
We must all come together and do everything in our power to reverse this scourge. The minority intends to badociate with the government and intensify its specific interventions with its constituents in order to put an end to this unacceptable situation that confronts our children.
In conclusion, the minority hopes that the report on human rights of the United States, published in 2019, will raise the necessary awareness and trigger the necessary discussions that must lead to concrete actions to ensure a climate of much better respect for fundamental human rights and social justice.
Sign,
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Member of Parliament, Tongu North
Member of the Standing Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament.
[14th[14th[14ème[14thMarch, 2019]
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