Mr. Joe Ghartey, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, has identified corruption as a major challenge to the realisation of human rights, especially in the light of scarce national resources. He stated, however, that institutional safeguards were in place and not a single political office holder had been found guilty of corruption in recent years and the nation had not experienced any human rights violations.

Mr Ghartey made this submission when he led a government delegation to defend the nation’s human rights record before the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at Geneva last month.

The other member of the delegation was Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State for Education, who together with Mr Ghartey defended the various achievements and challenges faced by the country.

The UPR mechanism of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations was established by General Assembly Resolution 60/251 and by the Human Rights Council in Resolution 5/1 of 18th June, 2007. Under this system, for the first time, the human rights records of all UN member states, regardless of their size, wealth, military or political importance, will be regularly examined through a common mechanism. In establishing the universal review, the General Assembly acknowledged that all states have human rights problems and there is room for improving human rights records. Ghana was reviewed by the Netherlands, Bolivia and Sri Lanka. Mr. Ghartey said direct budget allocation in relation to education and implementation of the national health programme, plans on child labour and development and laws on trafficking had been a major challenge for the enforcement of human rights.

The main issues Ghana addressed included rights of persons with physical disabilities, rights of women and children, civil and political rights, the right to health and traditional medicines, right to fair trial and access to justice, protection of workers and economic rights. The report also focused on the main challenges and constraints in the protection and promotion of human rights, especially those of women and children, and key national priorities, which include prisoners, women and children, the implementation of the Livelihood Empowerment Programme against Poverty (LEAP), and enactment of various bills relevant to human rights. The Ghanaian delegation also highlighted that the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice was cooperating with civil society in addressing challenges in mining areas in order to minimise the abuse of the people living in these communities.

The delegation defended its record on gender parity in politics, efforts to eradicate child labour, the independence of the judiciary and the right to fair trial, the impact of illegal mining activities on the enjoyment of human rights, efforts in ensuring free, compulsory universal basic education, efforts to strengthen CHRAJ and cooperation with civil society through various initiatives. Ghana was commended for enacting laws on violence against women and children, including the entering into force and implementation of the Domestic Violence Act and elimination of all harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM). The enforcement of laws on ritual servitude of girls, including sexual abuse and forced labour, the increase in participation of women in political life, and the narrowing of gender gap in education.

Special mention was also made on efforts to protect children, including the need to abolish corporal punishment of children lawful in the home, efforts to eradicate child labour and efforts to ensure that free compulsory education was achieved and the existence of laws prohibiting sexual activity between consenting adults. Allegations of police brutality and efforts made in training of civil servants to enforce the law, poor prison conditions, delays in the judicial process and corruption in the judiciary, the existence of the death penalty and the call for its abolition were also mentioned.

Other issues mentioned were foreign debt as an impediment to the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, the food situation in Ghana, efforts made to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and to fight discrimination against those affected by HIV/AIDS, the herbal medicine economy and its medicinal values, the consequences of cases of large scale illegal mining, calls for free and fair upcoming elections and a peaceful transition.