Sensitize more Africans on their rights and responsibilities – Veep

Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday called on members of the African Court of Human and People’s Rights to step up their sensitization programme to empower citizens of the various countries to know their rights and responsibilities.

He said such knowledge would deepen Africa’s democratic culture and create other opportunities and alternatives for the settlement of disputes among the people.

Vice President Mahama made this call when members of the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights called on him at the Castle, Osu.

The members who have been meeting in Accra since December 4 as part of the 23rd Session of the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights, were at the Castle to pay a courtesy call and to brief him on some of their decisions adopted for member countries.

This is the first time the court which attracted members from Mali, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi, Tunisia, among others, has held its annual session outside Arusha, Tanzania, where it is headquartered.

Vice President Mahama said all over the world people were now beginning to exhibit their human rights, especially in the Arab world, adding that it was therefore important for people on the Continent to also know their responsibilities in order not to exceed their limits.

Madam Sophia Akuffo, Vice President of the Court said although they had been empowered to work within member countries, they could only intervene when all local avenues and remedies were exhausted.

Madam Akuffo, who is also the Supreme Court Judge, said they had embarked on outreach programmes to sensitize the public on the Court’s activities and functions.

Source: GNA