6 Article 17 of the Constitution provides: 1. The dignity of all persons shall be inviolable. 2. No person shall, whether or not he is arrested, restricted or detained, be subject to: a. torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; b. any other condition that detracts or is likely to detract from his dignity and worth as a human being. Article 17 of the Constitution provides: 1. All persons shall be equal before the law B. LEGISLATION AND POLICY Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491) The Public Order Act abolished the permit system, which previously restricted the right to demonstrate or picket in protest against particular policies of government that might be deemed inimical to public interest. Directive Principles of State Policy In addition to the foregoing, the 1992 Constitution also contains a cardinal statement of national values, which are intended to guide the conduct of all citizens and authorities in Ghana. These values are found in Article 34 of the Constitution, which imposes collective responsibility on all citizens, organs of government (i.e. the Executive, Judiciary and Parliament), cabinet, political parties, and other bodies and persons in applying interpreting the constitution or any other law and also in taking and implementing policy decisions for the establishment of a just and free society. Specifically, Article 34(2) provides as follows: "The President shall report to Parliament at least once a year all the steps taken to ensure the realization of the policy objectives contained in this hapter (i.e. Directive Principles of State Policy); and, in particular, the realization of basic human rights, a healthy