AMBASSADOR HOSTS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY EVENT IN GHANA

UNCLAS ACCRA 000075

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GH KDEM PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HOSTS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY EVENT IN GHANA

REF: A. STATE 202764


B. ACCRA 01450

C. ACCRA 02458


1. Summary: On December 9 the Ambassador hosted a Human
Rights Day celebration at her residence for 80 human rights
activists, journalists and Government of Ghana officials. As
part of the ceremony, the Ambassador awarded six Democracy
and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) grants totaling $55,000 to
locally-based non-governmental organizations. Invited
speakers from the Government of Ghana (GOG)'s leading human
rights body as well as the Ghana Journalists' Association,
and civil society cited corruption, prisoners on remand,
treatment of refugees, domestic violence and the lack of
surveillance regulations as top human rights concerns. End
summary.
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AMBASSADOR'S REMARKS


2. The Ambassador commended the Commission on Human Rights
and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for sponsoring a week-
long Human Rights Day program to raise awareness of the
problem of corruption. She praised the progress of Ghana and
its neighbors toward stronger democracies and respect for
human rights. The Ambassador highlighted the election of
Africa's first woman president, Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, as an
example of democracy taking root in Liberia.


3. The Ambassador, however, pointed out that pervasive
corruption, life-threatening prison conditions, police
abuses, child labor and traditional practices that
discriminate against women and children persist in Ghana.
(Note: These are all documented in our annual Human Rights
Report. End note.) She said concern is mounting about mob
attacks on police stations, vigilante justice, violence
between police and protestors, and intimidation of the
press. She urged the Government of Ghana to pass legislation
to outlaw domestic violence and discrimination against the
disabled and to protect those who expose corruption.
________________________________________
GOG CITES REFUGEE FATIGUE, PRISON ABUSES


4. Anna Bossman, Acting Commissioner of CHRAJ, described
Ghana's refugee situation as "alarming, in view of the
numbers... as opposed to our resource constraints." Bossman
also deplored "degrading and often inhuman treatment meted
out to our prisoners." She echoed the Ambassador's call to
pass the Domestic Violence, Disability and Whistle Blower
bills. Additionally, she called on Parliament to pass the
Freedom of Information Bill as well as the entire draft
legislation on domestic violence, including a controversial
clause repealing spousal immunity from assault and other
charges under the Criminal Code.
_____________________________________
CIVIL SOCIETY SUBJECT TO SURVEILLANCE


8. Dr. Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi, Director of the Center for
Democratic Development, expressed concern about inadequate
regulations and controls on Ghana's security agencies who
wire tap and bug citizens and organizations. He also
highlighted the lack of progress on the rights of the child
and remand prisoners, and pointed to the need for more
police officers and for stronger human rights institutions.
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Comment


9. This event received extensive media coverage and
reinforced the Mission's commitment to human rights. Key
police officials and other GOG officials attended, even
though their agencies are often criticized for human rights
abuses. Bossman is more forward-leaning on prison
conditions and domestic violence than other GOG officials.
Her remarks about refugees reflects some growing frustration
with refugees within the GOG and among Ghanaians generally.
The fact that she and the other speakers felt comfortable to
talk so freely about sensitive human rights issues in a high
profile event like this environment underscores Ghana's
generally positive record on human rights and free speech.