Don't abuse powers under state of emergency, says NGO

Tamale, Dec. 23, GNA - A Tamale-based human rights NGO has urged the security agencies, especially those in Dagbon, not to hide behind the state of emergency in parts of the area to violate the human rights of the people they are supposed to protect.

The Centre for Human rights Education and Advocacy, in a statement to commemorate "Human Rights Day", said: "As we celebrate the Day it is essential that we take a critical look at the human rights situation in the country during the past year and make recommendations for the effective protection and promotion of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all Ghanaians."

The statement, signed by Mr. Issah Mahmudu, Executive Director of the NGO, said: "For us in Northern Ghana the human rights of persons are constantly being violated through cultural practices, such as female genital mutilation, infliction of brutal tribal marks, political intolerance and abuse of the powers of state of emergency by some personnel of the security agencies".

"It is important to stress that the imposition of a state of emergency merely curtails some but not all of the human rights of the individual or groups.

"The use of torture as a means of punishing suspects or people who break the curfew is unacceptable, and for that matter, constitutes a serious violation of the human rights of the victims", the statement said.

On The Commission for Human rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the statement noted that the Commission has a great mandate to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights of the citizenry. The statement suggested that the Commission should look beyond its frontiers for funding and logistics to be able to effectively perform its constitutionally mandated functions.