The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) Africa Office says its attention has been drawn to news reports of the unfortunate death of two (2) persons and severe injuries to others exercising their right to protest at Ejura in the Ashanti Region on June 29, 2021.
A statement issued Wednesday by CHRI said, according to the reports, the youth of Ejura Sekyedumase were protesting the death of a youth activist, Ibrahim Mohammed alias ‘Kaaka’ who was assaulted by assailants in his home and died in hospital from his injuries. Kaaka, from the social media videos available and news reports, had carried out series of social media campaigns that highlighted the developmental challenges in his community.
This seemingly led to the attack on him and his subsequent hospitalization, unfortunately, he died from his injuries. This angered the youth of the town who, after his burial, took to the streets of the town to protest. The Police, again from videos circulating on social media went to the community to enforce the peace but were unfortunately pelted with stones by the angry youth.
The Police, therefore, called for military re-enforcement which resulted in soldiers shooting live bullets into the crowd of protesters to disperse them.
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) Africa Office says, “As much as we find the actions of the youth unacceptable, CHRI condemns the deadly force used by the soldiers with the tacit support of the police who abdicated their primary role of keeping the peace and following standard procedures for crowd control”
“We find these events unsettling because the right to assembly, the right to protest, and freedom of expression are rights guaranteed under Chapter Five of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. Article 21(1) (d) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution states: “All persons shall have the right to freedom of assembly, including the freedom to take part in processions and demonstrations. Private Citizens who are exercising their constitutionally-guaranteed rights should not be met with Military firing live bullets, ending in deaths and injuries”
CHRI notes a statement issued by the Ashanti Regional Police Command promising to investigate the incident. Additionally, the President, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo has instructed the Minister for Interior to investigate the unfortunate disturbances.
“While appreciating the efforts to conduct investigations into the matter, it must be noted that precedence exists where after such investigations, the public does not see any meaningful outcome of such investigations”
CHRI is demanding that, in addition to these investigations into the Ejura incident,” Government should make the report of the investigations into the Ejura killings public to engender confidence in the work of the Police Security Officers found culpable must be sanctioned.
“The Government must cease bringing the military into internal security issues which is the preserve of the police who are supposed to have the training and orientation to deal with such matters, Government must resource the National Commission on Civic Education to intensify public education to stop the growing intolerance of divergent opinions in various parts of the country, and Officers of the Ghana Police Service must be re-trained in crowd control techniques in conformity with human rights standards”
The statement ended that “As a democratic country which has signed unto international human rights protocols and standards such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) and so on, the state must uphold and protect the Human Rights of all persons and ensure that the security agencies operate according to law, due process and internationally-held standards”
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
