The Director of the Africa Office of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Mina Mensah, has called on the government to enhance freedom of expression, especially ahead of the impending 2024 elections.
She emphasized the importance of Ghanaians fostering tolerance and taking responsibility for their speeches.
Mina Mensah was speaking at the commemoration of International Human Rights Day 2023 organized by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) under the theme, “The 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Implications for Human Rights Protection in Ghana.”
She expressed that free speech must be upheld and reinforced instead of being curtailed with the excuse that some people will overstep their boundaries when it is guaranteed.
“We want to recommend the protection of the freedoms of all people by upholding and reinforcing the principles of free speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly as we enter into the elections. A lot of issues will be raised, and so we are recommending that the state make room for people to express themselves.
“As Ghanaians, we need to be responsible in our speech; however, free speech should not be curtailed just because some people will go overboard.”
The Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Advocate Joseph Whittal, also urged the government to expedite the passage of the anti-witchcraft bill to ensure that the rights of all Ghanaians are respected and protected.
“Our concern now is what the president has indicated: he has constitutional concerns but has no problem with the content of the bill. Our problem as a Commission is: can the president speed up whatever he will do to bring that bill to parliament, whether it is through the attorney general or however he intends to? The women cannot afford any further delay.”