CHAPTER 2
including press freedom, association and assembly.
48. However, a great deal still needs to be done to improve and strengthen the human
rights, particularly of marginal and vulnerable groups, like women, children and
disabled persons. There has been a general impression from the various discussions that
the Ghana Police and other security agencies have continued to violate and infringe on
the human rights of citizens. Suspects have been detained or held in custody without
trial indefinitely and, in some cases in the past, extra-judicial killings were carried out.
49. Stakeholders have expressed mixed views on institutions like the CHRAJ,
established to enforce human rights. Some institutions, in particular the CHRAJ, have
been carrying out their mandate diligently, proactively and vigorously, enabling indigent
victims of human rights violations to access justice and seek redress. There is general
agreement, however, that the CHRAJ suffers from several human, financial and
logistical resource constraints.
50. It is felt that the bloated mandate of the CHRAJ, which includes the additional
objectives of fighting corruption and ensuring administrative justice, has overstretched
its limited capacity. During the stakeholders' meeting in Accra, the issue of the status of
the CHRAJ's decisions was raised. Even though the High Court has acknowledged the
legality of some of the decisions, uncertainty still hangs over their status and the
enforceability of the awards made by the Commission.
Economic, social and cultural rights
51. During the stakeholders' meeting in Accra and later in Kumasi, a number of
participants raised the issue of environmental rights, stating the importance of
preserving the environment. They pointed out that the 1992 Constitution does not
expressly address the issue of environmental rights.
52. Several stakeholders addressed the issue of culture and cultural rights. While some
view culture as a vital engine of democratic development, others see it merely as a cog in
that development. It is felt that culture has been neglected in government priorities it has
been said that when people are educated, they tend to forget their cultures. Other
stakeholders condemn cultural practices, like the trokosi, which harm women and girls.
Some chiefs at Ho have confirmed the occurrence of some of the discriminatory cultural
practices against women, but maintain that these affect certain and not all communities
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