U.S Govt Takes Swipe At NPP Govt?s Human Rights Record

The U.S. Government country report on Human Rights Practices in Ghana for 2003 was released by the U.S Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour on February 25, 2004.

A fairly balanced presentation, the report is not all charitable to the NPP government and confirms many of the NDC?s frequent charges of human rights abuses and violations, interference with free speech, harassing searches, and police brutalities.

Whilst reporting that there were no political killings, the report however states that security forces committed some unlawful killings of criminal suspects and innocent bystanders with excessive force. Incidents of police brutality, negligence and corruption were also reported, citing incidents from Bechem, Kintampo, Dzodze, Taifa and Dansoman.

It is also reported the NDC/NPP political clash in Tamale in which there were several deaths. It mentions that fact opposition NDC members called for an official inquiry into the situation, alleging that security forces abuses, harassed and discriminated against party supporters during the incident, but no judicial inquiry was instituted; the NPP government simply denied the allegations.

Torture and other cruel inhuman degrading treatment or punishment. :The report stated that it generally was believed that severe beatings of suspects in police custody occurred throughout the country but largely went unreported.

It also reported the clash between students of Sunyani Polytechnic and the police in which three students were injured and school property was destroyed.

Also reported was the incident at Ho where NPP members and the Asutsuare clash between NPP activists and NDC supporters.

Prison conditions were reported and commented on as harsh and sometimes life threatening.

It was also reported that the results of investigations into the May 2002 deaths of two suspects who died in a police holding cell in Accra had not been made public at year?s end.

Respect for Political Rights: According to the report, opposition parties and some persons in private business, continued to allege that some government contracts were awarded on the basis of ruling party membership and that government official pressured businesses to steer contracts toward favoured companies and individuals.

Acceptable Conditions Of Work: The report states that on February 27, after lobbying by trade unions, the Tripartite Commission raised the minimum wage of $1.06 (9,200 cedis), which was insufficient to provide a decent standard of living for a single wage earner and family.

Furthermore, there was widespread violation of the minimum wage law.