21 September 2023
Some key cardinal principles of the democracy we practice in Ghana, are good governance, accountability, rule of law etc. Therefore it is imperative for citizens to be subjected to the upfront injustice meted out to them each time the citizens by the rule of law try to exercise their political and civil rights. As stated in the 1992 constitution article (12) (1) the fundamental human rights and freedom enshrined in this chapter shall be respected and upheld by the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary and all the other organs of government and its agencies and, where applicable to them, by all natural and legal persons in Ghana, and shall be enforceable by the Courts as provided for in this Constitution. Some of these basic fundamental rights the Constitution seeks to make way for are economic rights, property rights, and civil and political rights as the Constitution makes clear in the 1992 Constitution article (21) (1)(d), All persons shall have the right to freedom of assembly including freedom to take part in procession and demonstration.
It is therefore needful for the government agency example, (CHRAJ), as stated in the Constitution to collaborate with the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to bring to rest the repetitive nature of abuse meted out to citizens by the police institution, each time citizens want to exercise their civil and political rights. The collaborative engagement by the Commission to partake in such an exercise will give some level of assurance to citizens that their fundamental rights are protected.
The spirit of the PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1994 (ACT491) to the police to supervise demonstration and other activities also clarify specifics, limits, and perimeters which should be enforced during the exercise if the need be, nonetheless, it also states the demands that ought to be met by person(s) who seeks to embark on such civil and political exercises. It was unnecessary on the side of the police to demonstrate the act of unprofessionalism they meted out to citizens who sought to demonstrate in a peaceful manner. I thereby engage the agencies and other organs of government to wake up and do the needful.
Righteous Semahar
CENTER FOR PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS AND HUMAN SECURITY, GHANA (CPCHS)
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