Accra, May 16, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday tasked the African Commission on Human and People's Right (ACHPR), to re-assess its strength and weakness, to enhance its operations of promoting and protecting human rights on the continent. He said the Commission must work out a viable relationship with other Regional institutions such as the African Court on Human and People's Rights, since the success of those institutions depended on the practical relationship and not only on resolutions made by the African Union.

President Kufuor made the remarks in a statement read on his behalf by Mr Joe Ghartey, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, at the official opening of the 41st Ordinary Session of the ACHPR in Accra. The two- week international conference attended by National Human Rights Institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations and Human Rights Commissioners, would deliberate on human rights issues confronting the continent and recommend measures to control them.

President Kufuor said Ghana was privileged to host the conference, not because it held the Chairmanship of the AU, but because the event had occurred at a time when the country was in a frenzy of its 50th Golden Anniversary celebrations.

He said Ghana's independence fifty years ago, was not only a pride to the country, but the continent as a whole, as it paved the way for freedom from all forms of colonialism and apartheid.

He noted that lasting unity and integration could only be attained on a platform of true peace, where each African was the other's keeper, and where there was fundamental human and people's rights for all. " This is the challenge not just for African leaders, but also for African institutions since unity, integration and fundamental human and peoples' rights are intrinsically linked", the president added. President Kufuor also reiterated the need for closer alliance between the African Commission and member countries of the AU to entrench provisions in the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. He urged the Commission to intensify public awareness on the Charter, and entreated Governments, civil society and the media to help promote its provisions across Africa.

President Kufuor said African women could only contribute effectively to development through empowerment and mentioned the 2003 Women's Protocol adopted by the AU as essential to ensure gender equality for accelerated and sustained development.

He said Ghana had not been left out in the fight for human dignity and equal protection before the law, and announced that the Ministry of Justice, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Women and Children's' Ministry, had been directed to ensure that the Women's Protocol was ratified by Parliament.

President Kufuor expressed the hope that the Commission would articulate issues that would regulate dialogue and debate, to create a basis of understanding and consensus, to erect the ramparts of African Unity.

Ms Salamatu Sawadogo, Chairperson of the African Commission, congratulated President Kufuor for his appointment as the AU Chairman, saying that the President had taken up this position at a crucial time when all Africans were yearning for accountability and good governance and a united continent.

She said although the African Commission had over the years helped to curtail human rights abuses in Africa, there was the need for stronger integration efforts of all member countries to end torture and injustice against humanity.

" African leaders must respect human rights through their policies and ensure that Africans are liberated from fear and intimidation, to attain the dream of an Africa that we have all dreamt of".

According to Ms Sawadogo, although the submission of states reports on human rights issues as it pertained in member countries had for some time now been encouraging, poverty, conflicts, impunity and traditional governance still remained a threat to protection of human rights. She said over 370 NGOs and 19 human rights institutions were currently affiliated to the Commission and expressed optimism that support from member states would further enhance their work.

Mrs K.F.Ajoni, Chairperson of the Coordinating Committee of the National Institutions in Africa, said the continent must critically review how it fared towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, as the target date was already half through. She implored African leaders to make the progress of their people a priority and to show clear evidence of commitment to human rights issues, as this would ensure meeting the MDGs'.

She also appealed to National Human Rights Institutions to secure affiliation with the African Commission to strengthen their activities and justify their status by conforming with the Paris Principles at all times.

Mrs Ajoni further called on member countries of the African Charter to give the necessary powers to their national human rights institutions, adding that countries affiliated to the Charter should establish functional and effective institutions in accordance with its provisions and AU resolutions.

She expressed the Committee's commitment to co-operate with the African Commission, the African Court of Human Rights and all other national institutions in their activities.

Mrs Ajoni congratulated Ghana on its Golden Jubilee celebration and for the country's contribution to the total liberation of most African states, saying, " Ghana had shown that change can only come through perseverance".