Rights group expresses concern about violations

Accra, Dec. 11, GNA - Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), an international non-governmental organisation, on Monday expressed concern about increasing human rights violations and reminded the Government of its policy to cultivate among the citizenry respect for fundamental human rights, dignity and freedoms.

Government and other public institutions should, therefore, take steps to curtail the gross violation of individual rights, Nana Oye Lithur Executive Director of the Africa Office of CHRI, said at a press conference in Accra to commemorate the International Human Rights Day, which fell on Sunday.

The theme for the celebration was: "Fighting Poverty - A Matter of Obligation and not Charity."

Speaking on the disappearance and alleged murder of Ghanaians in The Gambia, Nana Oye asked the government to use diplomatic channels to ensure the prosecution of the perpetrators.

She noted that there had been undue delay by the authorities of The Gambia on the extra judicial killings of 44 Ghanaians and asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to come out with a statement on the progress of investigations and steps The Gambian Government had taken to punish the perpetrators.

CHRI noted that on July 23, 2005, The Gambian officials allegedly apprehended 44 Ghanaians in transit from Senegal to Europe in the waters of the Gambia.

Nana Oye said these Ghanaians had since disappeared and 93rumours and stories have since emerged from The Gambia that the men were murdered by The Gambian Police forces on suspicion of being coup plotters=94.

She also expressed regret of human rights abuses against some mining communities such as Tarkwa; Prestea; Bibiani; Akote; Bonteso and Kenyasi.

Nana Oye said the human rights violations occurring within those communities were systematic and urged the Government to address the violation.

"The brutalities of State security forces and the mining companies have led to deaths in some mining communities. =93The environmental health impact of mining in these communities

is alarming. Spillage and leakage of hazardous cyanide have been a source of water pollution and contamination of water bodies." On the Shiare Community/Kyabobo National Park in Nkwanta District of the Volta Region, Nana Oye appealed to the Government to set up a committee to resolve the boundary dispute and issues between the Wildlife Department and the Shiare. On rape and defilement cases, Nana Oye noted that there were a number of factors impeding victims' access to justice. Nana Oye condemned the granting of bail to suspects in rape and defilement cases saying "those orders for bail by judges are unlawful and contrary to the Criminal Procedure Code." She expressed regret about the slow process of trial, frequent adjournments and inadequate number of magistrate's courts in the districts as some of the facts impeding access to justice by the public. Nana Oye, therefore, appealed to the Chief Justice to investigate ultra- vires practices and why some judges were flouting the law. She called on Minister of Ports and Railways and the Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines to issue a White Paper on the Digya Boat Disaster Report. 11 Dec. 06