Ghanaians continued to enjoy their freedoms of speech and association. Threats to
freedom of expression increased with the use of intemperate language, insults and
sometimes assault on persons presenting divergent views. The selective use of section
208 of the 1960 Criminal Code by the police further reinforced the fear of individuals
from freely expressing themselves.
Sustained efforts by stakeholders backed by the relevant legislations resulted in improved
changes in attitudes of people towards such practices as ritual servitude: trokosi, witches
and witches camps, and female genital mutilation (FGM).
There was a lot of public debate on the issue of homosexuality in Ghana. The 1992
Constitution does not explicitly say that homosexuality is illegal, but section 104(1)(b) of
the Criminal Code regards “unnatural carnal knowledge” as a misdeamenour. During the
year gays and lesbians were harassed, arrested, mistreated and imprisoned under the
interpretation that homosexuality was “unnatural”. There was a call for a clear legal
position to guide society’s treatment of gays and lesbians.
The Right to Information (RTI) Bill was laid before Parliament.
2.5
Accountable, Efficient and Effective Public Service Delivery
Ghana commenced the implementation of the new Civil Service Medium Term
Improvement Programme. Very little progress was, however, made in the establishment
of such key institutions – Civil Service Committee on Administrative Reforms, Reform
Coordinating Unit, and the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit.
The Single Spine Salary Policy entered its second year of implementation. As at the end
of December 2011 about 97 percent of public sector workers had been migrated onto the
Single Spine Salary Structure.
2.6
Promotion and Protection of Women Rights
Whilst there have been significant sensitivity towards gender issues, the country has not
fared well in upholding the rights of women. The Ministry of Women and Children
Sixth Annual APRM Progress Report: January – December 2011
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