Amnesty Int’l calls for ratification of housing rights

Amnesty International Ghana, has called on Government to ratify the Optional Protocol on Economic Social and Cultural Rights as soon as possible to end the act of forced evictions and demolitions.

Mr Lawrence Amesu, Director Amnesty International, was speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Accra to discuss the need for Ghana to adopt clear guidelines on the issue.

He said the devastating effect of the June 3rd disaster coupled with forced eviction and demolition exercises in the country had brought untold economic hardship onto an already vulnerable group of the population.

He said it is estimated that more than one billion people live in informal settlements in the world hence the multiple and widespread human rights violations many experienced in all regions of the world are one of the starkest representations of the link between poverty and human rights.

He added that due to the lack of security of tenure for residents of slums and informal settlements, they are often denied access to services such as water and sanitation, which are available to other urban residents.

He said it is high time such people are involved in decisions affecting their lives, to do away with discrimination, exclusion which drives marginalisation and have access to justice for remedy and accountability.

Mr Amesu, however, appealed to government to revisit and review the study and findings of Parliament on the Adjei Kojo demolition incident as most of the victims were retired civil servants and must be compensated for their lost properties.

He stated that by ratifying the protocol would demonstrate Ghana’s commitment to protecting all human rights and eradicating poverty.

Alhaji Yar Ishaq Alhassan, Director Decentralisation Local Government and Rural Development, who read a speech on behalf of the Minister Alhaji Collins Dauda, said the global economic crisis is having a detrimental effect on the progress being made in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in general and on affordable social housing particularly in the developing world.

The minister said despite the challenges with dwindling public financial resources to tackle issues relating to housing, Ghana had made tremendous strides in the provision of housing particularly for the poor.

He said all facets of the society has been provided housing through direct involvement of the government and private sector, adding that several social housing schemes have been devised and efforts are being made to ensure that access to adequate quality housing is achieved.

He added that based on the launched National Policy, delivery of housing would be very effective to meet the aspirations of all Ghanaians particularly the poor.

The Minister said several interventions have been put in place to ensure inclusive and integrative human settlements are created in line with the sustainable development goals and various protocols in which Ghana is a signatory.