Civil Liberties are the foundation of democracy in Ghana. They represent the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed to every citizen of Ghana by the Constitution. The Civil Liberties of Ghana include:
- Freedom of Speech
- Freedom of the Press
- Freedom of peaceful assembly
- Equal due process under the law
- Protection from arbitrary detention
- The right to a trial when accused of a crime.
- Judicial equal treatment regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity or beliefs
- Equal treatment regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity or beliefs for employment, housing, healthcare, and educational opportunity
Civil Liberties are not gifts of the government. They are inherent rights recognized and protected by the Constitution. The purpose of Civil Rights in Ghana is to ensure that the power of the government shall never overwhelm the power of Ghanaians.
It is my firm belief that the democratic government of Ghana exists to protect Civil Liberties not to limit or infringe upon them. Therefore, I pledge that when elected I will work to strengthen the Civil Liberties of Ghanaians.
Government corruption, inequality practiced by double dipping Ministers and government official, ex-gratia and Article 71 are all infringements on the Civil Liberties of the Citizens. Sweetheart contracts, under the table payments, favors and the sale of the Natural Resources of Ghana are all infringements on the Civil Liberties of every Citizen born and yet to be born.
Galamsey and its pollution are a violation of the Civil Liberties of the people. It is the obligation of a government that taxes the people to protect them. Every minute that the citizens of Ghana are breathing polluted air, and drinking polluted water from illegal mining, e-waste reclamation, failed infrastructure projects, is a minute less that the average Ghanaian will live. I will fight to protect the people from the abuses of government corruption.
Ghana’s central government. under successive administrations has failed to fully uphold the government obligations to ensure basic Civil Liberties. When a hospital is funded and never treats a patient, that is a violation of Civil Liberties. When government officials look the other way while gold is flown out of the country without being accounted for and registered that is a violation of Civil Liberties.
When industrialists, party loyalists, and administrative cronies receive special treatment that too is a violation of the Civil Liberties of every Ghanaian.
In the eyes of the World, Ghana is praised as one of Africa’s more stable democracies. They fail to see at what cost. Stability does not guarantee the full protection of Civil Liberties. Citizens of Ghana have experienced restrictions, intimidation, and uneven enforcement of their rights.
The press and protesters have been met with heavy police tactics and unjust incarceration. These actions have been undertaken by the government over the past thirty years to limit the collective expression of grievance by the people. The two-party system has joined together to oppress the people at the ballot box and inequality in government service. I will end these practices and stand up for Civil Liberties.
It is a commonly held belief among Ghanaians that Ghana has duality in its application of justice. There is one system of justice for the wealthy and connected and another for everyone else. I say this must stop. Even the perception of selective justice erodes the confidence of the people in public institutions. I will reform the Constitution with an emphasis on equality, justice and the protection of Civil Liberties for the People.
The democratic future of Ghana and the dreams of our ancestors depend on not just elections and lip service to democracy. The hopes, dreams and future of this democracy, nation and people depend on a government that will actively protect Civil Liberties. I am that candidate.
