Book on human rights and police launched
The Commonwealth Human Right Initiative (CHRI) has launched a book aimed at educating the public on their rights when dealing with the police.
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The 35-page book, which deals with pertinent questions to ask when dealing with the police, was published with assistance from Australian Aid.
It is entitled: “101 Things you wanted to know about the Police but Were Too Afraid to ask”.
Some of the thematic areas which the book addresses include questions likely to be asked during arrest, detention, interrogation, legal aid and bail.
Speaking at the launch, Ms Mina Mensah, CHRI Africa Regional Coordinator, noted that many mistakes were committed by both the public and police officers during the performance of key duties such as arrest, seizure, prosecution, crowd control, and crime control.
She said the CHRI had been working on police reforms in Commonwealth countries for more than a decade due to its commitment towards ensuring positive changes in the Police Service.
“In Ghana, we began working on the issue of police accountability since 2005 with the view to advocating reforms in the Ghana Police Service to bring it in line with modern and international human rights standards,” she said.
Ms Mensah expressed appreciation to Australia Aid for sponsoring workshops aimed at educating Ghanaians on their human rights across the 10 regions.
She said the CHRI offices in countries such as India, Kenya and Uganda had published their own versions in various languages.
“Although the public has a role to play in ensuring accountability, it is only a well-informed citizenry which can not only demand accountability, but also appreciate and support the police to perform effectively and efficiently.”
Mr Sam Okudzeto, Executive Chairman, CHRI Africa Office, called on Ghanaians to get themselves abreast of the 1992 Constitution to know their rights and responsibilities.
He lauded the publication of the book, saying it would help expand the scope of people to know their rights.
Mr Okudzeto urged Ghanaians to note that the Ghana Police Service was not a law on to itself but a system put in place to ensure that the laws of the country worked or were adhered to.
Ms Joanna Adamson, Australian High Commissioner, who launched the book, said more than 2,000 copies had been distributed to schools and organisations across the country to enable people to know their rights and duties as far as the Ghana Police Service was concerned.
She appealed to the media, the Judicial Service and the National Commission for Civic Education to intensify education on the rights and responsibilities of Ghanaians as enshrined in the Constitution.
Source: GNA
