Young Peoples and Human Rights Ghana

After three years, soldiers who forced a couple loitering around the Osu Castle to have sex at gunpoint have been found guilty. The incident, which took place in 2008, became public after a widely circulated video of the incident caught the attention of the general public and human right activities who called for an investigation into the incident. After weeks of investigations into the shameful incident, Joy News confirmed that the soldiers have been found guilty and have been sanctioned accordingly. The Public Relations Officer of the Military High Command, Col. Mbawuni Atintande told Joy News Tuesday that, “these two Naval [personnel] have been identified… investigations went on and then as per our regulations, this is a very reprehensible act, we know that its an offence and we have to do something about it.” Col. Atintande further disclosed that after identifying the officers involved, “they have been charged and tried.” He however failed to reveal the type of punishment meted out...

9 May 2011   My fellow South Africans, Today, 9 May 2011, marks the anniversary of a grave miscarriage of justice. On this day five years ago, I was found not guilty of rape by Judge Van der Merwe in the South Gauteng High Court. The years since that fateful day have been very fruitful for me. I was elected President of the Republic of South Africa, have married twice more, have been able to use my power to avoid further criminal charges and have increased both my own wealth and that of my family. Despite this good fortune, however, I find myself wracked by guilt over my actions all those years ago. Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to come clean, to tell the full story of how I got away with rape and beg the forgiveness of both the country and the woman I raped. I did indeed rape Khwezi, on 2 November 2005 in my Forest Town home. I did not imagine for one moment that either her silence or her dress signaled consent; the fact that I used both these arguments in court ...

Sixty-three remand prisoners at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison whose cases have not been heard since their incarceration have been granted unconditional release under the Justice For All Programme. Thirty-two others whose warrants have expired have also been granted bail because their dockets cannot be traced. However, one remand prisoner was convicted, while four cases that merited prosecution were adjourned. The Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Civil Liberties (CHURCIL), a human rights non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mr Kojo Graham, told the Daily Graphic in Accra that those who were granted bail last Friday and met the conditions were required to report themselves regularly to police stations within their localities. He said that a team of police personnel and investigators collected detailed information on the released prisoners, particularly those on bail, in an effort to monitor their activities. Three Appeal Court judges, namely, Justice C.J. Honyenu...

A woman from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Odorkor, a suburb of Accra, claims to have sighted the mark of the beast, 666, on some Ghanaian foreheads. Eunice Dzidzor told Joy News’ Sammy Darko her testimony is real, God-sent and has disastrous consequences if it is treated with contempt. The 666 in biblical evocation marks the beginning of end-time in which only the people with the mark of the beast will be allowed to buy and sell. Revelations 13: 15-18 reads; "He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His numbe...

Despite significant improvements, representation of key populations on Country Coordinating Mechanisms and in grant proposals remains unacceptably low   (May 3, 2011) – A new analysis of all HIV proposals from Rounds 8, 9 and 10 of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) shows improvements in funding trends for men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people and sex workers, three populations severely impacted by the HIV epidemic worldwide. However, the analysis reveals that despite clear gains, these key populations remain gravely underrepresented on the GFATM's Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs) and in GFATM grant proposals. The report was released in advance of the upcoming GFATM Partnership Forum Meeting, the Twenty-Third GFATM Board Meeting in mid-May, and the unveiling of the GFATM's new five-year strategy later this year.   The GFATM analysis involved reviews of all funded and unfunded HIV proposals from Rounds 8 through 10 and reports ...

It has become apparent that homosexuality is gaining grounds in Ghana as a man who attempted to get married to another man at Suame, a suburb of Kumasi, has found his name on the police wanted list, says reports reaching NEWS-ONE. Alex Kojo Asante, a 47-year-old mechanic and auto spare parts dealer, is said to have attempted to marry his male lover, an accountant by name Steven Mensah. Alex and Stephen are however said to have jumped bail and fled town before the court case could start. A police source told NEWS-ONE that Steven was believed to be hiding in South Africa where the mother was born, while Asante was said to have left for Europe to seek a greener pastures. Investigations by this reporter suggested that Asante usually dressed like a woman when he was much younger, and at a point wanted to undergo a gender surgical operation which the family failed to support. The source said Alex has been wanted for homosexual activities as far back as the year 2000. Meanwhile, the police ha...

April 21, 2011 Kade, April 21, GNA - Kofi Boakye, a farmer, who caught his wife and another man having sex in their kitchen and inflicted cutlass wounds on his "rival", was on Thursday put before the Kade District Magistrate Court. Boakye pleaded guilty with explanation but following his explanation, the Magistrate, Mr Abdul Majid Iliasu, entered a plea of not guilty for him. He was granted bail in the sum of GH¢1,000 with one surety to re-appear on May 05. Police Inspector D. T. Nartey prosecuting told the court that both the complainant and accused were farmers residing at Akyem Dwenase near Akwatia. He said because the wife of the accused sold drinks, the complainant frequent the house to drink. About two months ago, the accused had information that the complainant was having affair with his wife. The prosecutor said when Boakye confronted the wife, she denied it. On April 11, Boakye went to town and on his return to the house; he heard an unusual noise in the kitchen of t...