Ghana faces human rights crisis amid rising police brutality against protesters

Accra, Ghana – September 28, 2024 – Civil society organizations in Ghana have expressed grave concern over the recent deterioration of civic space and alarming violations of human rights during peaceful protests across the country.

Over the past weekend, demonstrators calling for government accountability faced police manhandling, arbitrary arrests, and detention without clear notification of their whereabouts.

Such actions are being condemned as serious infringements on the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, which are fundamental to Ghana’s democratic principles.

The protests emerged as a response to rising public frustrations over escalating economic hardships, rampant corruption, and the environmental challenges posed by illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as Galamsey.

Historically regarded as a bastion of democracy in West Africa, Ghana is now facing scrutiny over its commitment to upholding human rights, particularly in light of a recent report by Civicus which downgraded the country’s civic space status to “Obstructed.”

This report notes a troubling increase in attacks on peaceful protests and restrictions on free speech.

The World Press Freedom Index and findings from Afrobarometer further highlight the concerns over the erosion of civil liberties in Ghana, painting a picture of a country where the culture of impunity regarding human rights violations is on the rise.

Article 21 of the Ghanaian Constitution guarantees citizens the right to peaceful assembly and protest, yet the increasing crackdown on these rights jeopardizes the foundational principles of democracy.

In their statement, the concerned organizations have called upon the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to urgently address these allegations of human rights violations.

They demand the immediate release of all unjustly detained protesters and insist on strict adherence to due process in any legal actions against individuals.

The organizations are also urging for an independent investigation into how the police managed the protests.

They stress the importance of the judiciary as a crucial protector of democratic rights and urge it to uphold the rights of citizens in accordance with constitutional mandates.

As Ghana approaches a pivotal election period, these organizations urge the government, under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to take swift and decisive action to reaffirm its commitment to human rights and the right to peaceful protest.

The sanctity of democracy in Ghana is underlined by a firm respect for the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the essential right of citizens to hold their leaders accountable.

The following organizations have endorsed this statement, underscoring the collective concern for human rights in Ghana:

1. West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)
2. STAR Ghana Foundation
3. Civic Space Resource Hub (CSR-Hub) for CSOs in West Africa
4. Girls Advocacy Network
5. Centre for Communities Education and Youth Development (CCEYD)
6. E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA)
7. SWIDA Ghana
8. Human Rights Reporters Ghana
9. Transparency Centre, Africa
10. United Force For Development International (UF4D)
11. African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development (ANYL4PSD)
12. Center for Youth and Child Crisis Intervention (CYCCRIS Intervention)
13. Rural Initiatives for Self Empowerment Ghana (RISE-Ghana)
14. Human Rights and Development Services (HURDS Foundation)
15. Youth and Women Empowerment (YOWE)
16. The Ark Foundation Ghana
17. Pro Bono Impact Legal Fund
18. One Ghana Movement
19. NORSAAC
20. Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana)
21. Dream Africa Volunteer Service
22. Human Rights Advocacy Centre
23. Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)
24. Western Region Development Network of NGOs (WERENGO)
25. Center for Youth and Child Crisis Intervention
26. Nyankonton Aid Foundation
27. Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD – Nigeria)
28. World Impact Development Foundation (WIDEF)
29. Center for Peace and Progress Advocacy Ghana (CePPAG)
30. Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas (CSPOG)
31. IMANI Africa
32. Pensplusbyte
33. Citizens Movement Against Corruption
34. Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition

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