Ghana: Update to GHA0990 of 29 May 1989 on human rights abuse in Ghana including information on political prisoners and detention of dissidents since 1996
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GHA30507.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ghana: Update to GHA0990 of 29 May 1989 on human rights abuse in Ghana including information on political prisoners and detention of dissidents since 1996, 1 November 1998, GHA30507.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac9c4.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Several media reports indicate that human rights in Ghana remain circumscribed for certain groups of people, particularly, women. Sex workers are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by the police, clients and staff of the hotels and other services that the prostitutes use (IPS 5 Aug. 1998).
Women in northern Ghana accused of witchcraft are particularly vulnerable to abuse (Africa News 27 Oct. 1997; IPS 12 Sept. 1997; DPA 11 Sept. 1997). The women "are either lynched or chased out of their homes into camps opened for them by some traditional rulers in the regions...people accused of witchcraft are set upon by mobs and killed. The lucky ones who get away find their ways to camps where many of them spend the rest of their lives because their relatives do not want them back" (Ghana Focus 27 Oct. 1997).
According to IFEX, two journalists, Eben Quarcoo , former editor of the Free Press and Kofi Coomson, editor-in-chief of the Ghanaian Chronicle, had their passports seized by a court order (30 July 1998). The two journalists were reportedly charged in 1997 for carrying articles in their papers accusing the government of drug-trafficking.
An article in the World Times of July 1997 states that 292 condemned prisoners are awaiting execution. Out of these, 32 have been on death row for 10 or more years. The Ghana Human Rights Commissioner reportedly called for the abolition of the death penalty because it had not been applied since 1992, and it was unlikely that it would be applied (DPA 11 Apr. 1996).
For information on political detainees please consult Amnesty International Report 1998, Human Rights World Watch 1998, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1997 1998, Freedom of the Press Throughout the World 1997, which are available at Regional Documentation Centres.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Ghana Focus. 27 October 1997. "Ghana: Ghana's Human Rights Body Condemn Treatment of Witches." (Africa News 27 Oct. 1997/NEXIS)
IFEX. 30 July 1998. "Ghana: Passports of Two Editors Seized by Court Order." (Africa News 30 July 1998/NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA). 11 September 1997. "Ghana Rights Commission Urges Freedom for 'Witches.'" (NEXIS)
_____. 11 April 1996. "Ghana Human Rights Commissioner Wants Death Penalty Abolished." (NEXIS)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 5 August 1998. Kwaku Baka. "Women-Ghana: Ghanaian Streetwalkers Seek Human Rights." (NEXIS)
_____. 12 September 1997. Edward Ameyibor. "Ghana-Human Rights: Age-Old Belief Costs Women Their Freedom." (NEXIS)
World Times. July 1997. "African Look After Their Own Fiercely; Official Indifference Obscures the Truth." (NEXIS)
