In its yearly report on the State of the World's Human Rights, Amnesty International lists various instances of human rights abuses in Ghana.
The study called attention to problems such as the infringement of the right to free speech, police brutality, forcible evictions, child labor, discrimination against LGBTIQ persons, and violations of women's rights.
Freedom of speech
The study indicated a decline in Ghana's freedom of speech, using Reporters Without Borders' 2022 World Press Freedom Index.
The story said that "in February, radio host Oheneba Boamah Bennie was sentenced to two weeks in jail and fined GH3,000 (USD 243) for contempt of court after he released a video alleging that President Akufo-Addo conspired with judges to influence the 2020 presidential elections."
"In August, the Ashanti Region's Kumasi Traditional Council imposed a suspension order on the radio station Oyerepa FM after it aired an interview with the leader of an opposition party who accused the traditional authority of ignoring illegal mining activities in the area and threatened to organize a protest. After the station's management apologized, the station was given permission to resume operations three days later.
use of excessive force
A number of instances of police officers employing excessive force were also documented in the study, including one instance in which a gang of plain-clothes security personnel attacked a radio host and caused eardrum damage because the man would not give up his phone.
A spectator was killed and at least five other protestors were injured after demonstrators attacked a police station during a violent demonstration in Nkoranza, Bono East Region, according to the report.
Torture
The research also brought attention to the pervasive issue of authorities, including security personnel, torturing and mistreating people.
It discussed a number of well-known examples, such as the one involving social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who was charged with treason in February after threatening to organize a coup if parliament approved the electronic tax law.
Barker-Vormawor said that throughout his arrest and two-month incarceration, security personnel assaulted him for more than three hours and that he was periodically kept in solitary confinement. He added that cops had threatened to put him to He was made to disappear forcibly. His case is still open.
It further stated that investigative journalist Michael Aidoo had allegedly been tortured and mistreated in March after being attacked by Afari Military Hospital guards for taping a governing party office on the hospital's property. He claims that the troops beat him repeatedly and had him perform push-ups while wearing a cement block around his waist.
The Amnesty International study also emphasised the continued use of the prohibited practise of chaining patients with real or suspected mental health issues in conventional medical or religious establishments. More than 60 individuals, including children, were being detained in chains or cages when the organisation visited five sites.
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