Ghana to pay compensation as ECOWAS Court finds govt guilty of illegally arresting, deporting New Force spokesperson

The ECOWAS Court has ruled in favour of Shalimar Abbiusi, spokesperson for the New Force, against the Republic of Ghana for violating her fundamental rights.

The court, according to a statement by the New Force, found that Ghana wrongfully arrested, rearrested, and illegally deported Abbiusi in December 2023, causing significant damage to her personal and professional reputation.

The court stated that the actions of the Ghana Immigration Service contravened Article 6 of the Liberty of People, despite all charges against Abbiusi being dropped by the State Prosecutor.

As a result, the court mandated compensation from the Ghanaian government, marking a significant victory for justice and accountability.

Francis-Xavier Sosu, Esq., the Madina legislator who represented Abbiusi alongside Lawyer Belinda Narkey Quaynor, expressed gratitude for the court's decision, stating, "We feel vindicated that the ECOWAS Court has protected the rights of Shalimar."

The New Force reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring fairness and justice across African nations and urged the Ghanaian government to respect human rights and uphold the rule of law as guaranteed by the Constitution.

They highlighted that the actions against Abbiusi exemplify a broader issue of political persecution that threatens democracy in Ghana.

The New Force called on civil society organizations, human rights advocates, and the international community to condemn such violations and support efforts to reform governmental institutions.

Meanwhile, checks by GhanaWeb on the list of decisions published by the ECOWAS Court on its official website, with the address http://www.courtecowas.org/decisions-3/ as of November 23, 2024, gave no indication of no such ruling by the court.



GA