Human Rights Council elections 2008 - Ghana

Although Ghana retains the death penalty in law for a number of offences, the country is de facto abolitionist; the last executions were carried out in 1993. In recent years, several death row inmates have had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.

Despite these positive developments, no measures have been taken to abolish the death penalty in law, and, according to official figures, 104 prisoners are currently on death row, including three women.

Amnesty International is concerned that prisons in Ghana are generally under-resourced, extremely overcrowded and have limited medical and sanitary facilities. According to official figures, prisons incarcerate approximately 13,000 people, although there is capacity for only 8,000 prisoners.

Almost one third of the detainees are awaiting trial. The organization is concerned by the lack of transparency about the situation in prisons. In March 2008, requests by Amnesty International to visit Nsawam prison were turned down due to "internal difficulties".

Amnesty International is concerned that forced evictions of marginalized people continue to occur. Forced evictions appear to have been carried out without adequate prior consultation, adequate compensation or alternative accommodation.

In March and April 2006, hundreds of residents from the Dudzorme Island were forcibly evicted with less than a month’s notice, despite a decision in January 2003 by the Minister for Land and Forestry to suspend evictions. In some cases, forced evictions have led to violence and the death of evictees.

Violence against women continues to be widespread in Ghana and violence in the family is thought to affect one in three women. After years of discussion the Domestic Violence Act finally became law in 2007, allowing prosecution of marital rape.

However, further legislative reforms are needed as are more resources to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Units in the police service. Additionally, despite being made a criminal offence in 1994, female genital mutilation continues to be practiced, particularly in the north of Ghana.

The National Reconciliation Commission, established by the government in 2002 to address and record human rights violations committed during Ghana’s periods of unconstitutional rule since independence in 1957, released its report in July 2005. The Commission concluded that the majority of human rights abuses were attributed to the unconstitutional governments and recommended reparation and rehabilitation for victims, in particular victims of rape and other sexual violence.

In October 2006, the government began paying reparations to some 2,000 Ghanaians, but more needs to be done to fully implement the Commission’s recommendations.

Recent Amnesty International statements and reports:

General

Amnesty International Annual Report extracts for Ghana, 2005-2007

Forced evictions

Ghana: forced evictions in the Digya national park area must stop (Public Statement, 19 April 2006)

Human rights in prisons

Ghana: What’s happening in the prisons? (Public Statement, 1 May 2008)

Ratification of International Treaties

Treaty Status Recognition of specific competences of Treaty Bodies Reservations/ Declarations
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Ratified Art. 41 (inter-state complaints) Entered
Optional Protocol to the ICCPR Ratified    
Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR on the death penalty      
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Ratified    
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Ratified    
Optional Protocol to CEDAW Signed    
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Ratified None  
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) Ratified Art. 21 (inter-state complaints)
Art. 22 (individual complaints) 		Entered
Optional Protocol to CAT Signed    
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Ratified    
Optional Protocol to the CRC on children in armed conflict Signed    
Optional Protocol to the CRC on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography Signed    
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families Ratified None  
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Signed    
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Ratified    
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees Acceded   Entered
Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees Acceded   Entered
The Four Geneva Conventions Acceded    
Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts Ratified    
Protocol II to the Geneva Conventions relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts Ratified    
Protocol III to the Geneva Conventions relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem Signed    

Compliance with Reporting Obligations

Total Overdue Reports Up to 5 years overdue 5-10 years overdue 10 years or more overdue
8 CERD: 18th and 19th periodic reports
CESCR: initial report
HRC: 2nd periodic report
CAT: 2nd periodic report
CMW: initial report 		HRC: initial report
CAT: initial report 		 

Cooperation with the Special Procedures 

Extension of a standing invitation   Outstanding visit requests (year requested) Forthcoming visits (dates if available) Missions carried out between May 2007 and April 2008
All Special Procedures Working Group on the use of mercenaries (2006)
Special Rapporteur on the right to education (2007) 		None Special Rapporteur on violence against women (July 2007)
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