Investigatation Kume Preko by CHRAJ

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice has adjourned to 30th of this month, proceedings on a petition filed by the Trades Union Congress, demanding an investigation into events in the wake of the Kume Preko demonstration organised by the Alliance of Change in which four persons lost their lives. The case was adjourned due to the absence of the Minister of the Interior.

According to the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Mr. Emile Short, all the parties were duly informed and the Minister had earlier on indicated to his office that, he would appear before the Commission with the Attorney-General. He could therefore not tell why the Minister was absent. He however, allowed counsel for the TUC to brief the panel on the their grievances. Counsel said the constitution provides that all persons shall have the right to freedom of assembly including freedom to take part in procession and demonstrations. Furthermore, the Supreme Court struck-out parts of the Public Order Law which enjoins persons to obtain permit before assembling or demonstrating. Counsel said in furtherance to this, the government came out with a law, the Public Order Act of 1994 Act 491 which provides that persons organising a procession or demonstration should notify the police.

He said on the 11th of May this year, the AFC organised a demonstration in Accra and it is the belief of the TUC they satisfied the legal requirements. But during the demonstration four persons were killed and several other injured. Thereafter statements were issued by the AFC, the ACDR and the Minster of the Interior. They all attributed the cause of the clash on that day to some ACDR officials who allegedly made a human shield around the 31st December Market and attacked the demonstrators. Counsel said the incident has thus caused fright amongst all peace-loving people of the country. He said it is the contention of the TUC, a mass workersAE organisation that they can demonstrate to press home their grievances and if measures are not taken to avoid such occurrences, the lives of their members and other concern of the TUC is about the fundamental rights of the people stressing that the action of the Minister some people have lost their right to live. The TUC, he said, wants investigations into this mishap to forestall similar incidents in the future.