Ghana cries for justice

The Independent, writing on human rights and justice, in a front- page commentary says it has in recent months given platform to Kwabena Agyepong and the Djentuh family of Ghana who think that their inalienable rights as human beings and Ghanaians have been violated.

Additionally, it has taken issue with the waywardness of Ghana's Presidency, disturbed that the highest authority of the land can arbitrarily order his bodyguards to dispense instant justice.

The paper says last Tuesday an Accra Circuit Tribunal presided over by Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson-Yeboah, remanded Mr. and Mrs. Djentuh in police custody to re-appear on August 30, for an "appropriate sentence" having found them guilty of offensive conduct.

"But for the records and the peril of being subjected to the country's motto of Freedom and Justice we beg to scream that this country is from its glorified motto", the paper stated.

Giving the background to the Jentuh's case, the paper says a Kangaroo System at the Castle in early January abducted their son, Selassie Jentuh, former boyfriend of Ezenator, the eldest daughter of President Rawlings and kept him in custody at the Castle for three days.

The parents, worried over their son's fate had gone there and made every noise to get him released. They, in reply, got verbal lashing from Mrs. Rawlings, and the state was later brought in to deal with them.

The Independent in questioning the place of Freedom and Justice in the issue, questions who will not shriek and shout like the Jentuh's did if their sons or daughters are abducted and detained anywhere in the world.

According to the paper, it is only the state and its agents who can explain through the law the two weeks remand of the Djentuh's before finding an "appropriate sentence for them". "That must be Ghana's version of Freedom and Justice for you and me", Independent stated.