Ghana media urged to help promote human rights education

The Ghanaian media has been urged to collaborate effectively with human rights organizations to enlighten the citizenry on their basic freedoms and rights.

Mrs Halimatu Nuhu, Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), said many people were being denied their basic human rights due to ignorance.

Addressing a public forum in Kumasi to mark this year’s human rights week celebration on Friday, she said the media has an important role to play in educating the public on their rights and responsibilities.

Mrs Nuhu, who has additional responsibility for the Ashanti region, expressed concern about the situation where people in the region resort to the FM radio stations for redress of perceived rights violations and other abuses.

She asked the media to direct such persons to the office of CHRAJ for investigations.

Madam Lucy Afari Yeboah, Registrar of the Ashanti Regional Office of CHRAJ,
said as of November this year, the Office had registered 1,635 as against the year 2009 total of 1,488 cases.

She said the Office had been able to resolve 1,326 of the cases.

Madam Yeboah said child rights related matters topped the list of cases reported to them.

Mrs Devine Adade, Regional Public Education Focal Person and Investigator, said in-spite of numerous educational campaigns, most people were still ignorant about their rights and called on the media to support the office to carry out its mandate.

Source: GNA