UN urges Ghana to ensure economic boom doesn’t undermine human rights protection

A UN group of experts has urged Ghana to step up human rights protection as the country’s economy keeps expanding.

Ghana’s economy grew by 7.9% in 2012 led by the services sector, according to the Ghana Statistical Service who revised its figures in April 2013. The economy, as at the end of 2012, had a value of GH¢73.1 billion in terms of GDP.

After a ten-day official visit to Ghana, the five-member UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights at a press briefing in Accra July 17, 2013 cautioned that the country needs to prepare its economy, society and institutions to ensure expanding the economy does not undermine human rights protection.

“Rapid economic growth can pose big challenges for protecting rights,” Alexandra Guáqueta, a member of the Working Group said.

Ms Guáqueta added “national and foreign investors need to demonstrate greater respect for human rights as they participate in Ghana’s growth.”

During their visit, the experts had meetings in Accra, Ashanti and Central regions.

They urged the Ghanaian government to ensure that the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were at the heart of the new policy on corporate social responsibility being developed by the Trade Ministry.

“The principles should also guide the work of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the Ghana Free Zones Board, and be incorporated in Ghana’s trade and investment agreements,” added the group.

Even though Ghana has a relatively strong legal framework to protect rights, the working group however, noted that laws and regulations on child labour, health and safety, working hours and employment discrimination against women are often not effectively implemented by businesses nor enforced by authorities.

People, particularly in rural areas and the informal sector, faced practical obstacles in getting effective remedy through the justice system, the experts noted.

The group is expected to present a detailed report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014.

Established by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011, the independent working group included Mr. Michael Addo, Ms. Alexandra Guáqueta, Ms. Margaret Jungk, Mr. Puvan Selvanathan and Mr. Pavel Sulyandziga (current Chairperson-Rapporteur).

By Ekow Quandzie