Amnesty International Ghana Launches “Protect the Protest” Campaign
Amnesty International Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organization(NGO) has launched the “Protect the Protest Campaign” at a national dialogue program on protests in Accra.
The campaign seeks to challenges government to put in place the needed measures to protect protestors as well as lift barriers and restrictions on peaceful protest.
Speaking at the launch, the Country Director of Amnesty International, Ghana, Genevieve Partington said the citizenry quest to campaign for the rights of protestors is enshrined in the 1992 constitution Article (21) that citizens of Ghana have the right to peaceful protests with no limitations and barriers.
She explained that seldomly, security forces suppress and apply excessive force as part of the drive to intimidate protestors and pointed out that is the fundamental right of Ghanaians to protest.
She noted that peaceful protests are sometimes confronted with other groups and individuals with the primary purpose of creating chaos and violence which ends up defeating the purpose of the protest march.
She noted that protesters in these regard can look out for suspicious characters and report of their conduct that can lead to violence in the process of peaceful protests.
According to her, Amnesty as part of its core mandate supports protest organizes by ensuring that messages are not in conflicting with violence and must be carried within stipulated guide lines.
For his part, the Board Chair of Amnesty International Ghana, Francis Nyantakyi who launched the campaign said protest have been the driving force of expressing opinion and grievances and explained that the move and actions ties into every fabric of social movements.
According to him, the rights of protestors have come under attacked as peaceful protest have also been met with violence.
In an address, the Deputy Attorney General, Diana Asona Dapaah said government by the constitution allows the freedom to protest and urged security forces and players in that space to observe with decorum at all times.
She said her outfit, upholds all tenets of fundamental human rights and government will continue to accept the freedom of assembly, adding that it is the path that Amnesty International is spear heading.
Source:Ben LARYEA /johnawuniktv@gmail.com
