By: Alexander Afriyie
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ruled that the Government of Ghana must pay $75,000 in damages to 30 members of the Homeland Study Group Foundation for violating their fundamental human rights. The court declared that the Ghanaian authorities’ prolonged detention of the individuals without trial or due process was unjustifiable.
Key Points of the Ruling:
– Damages: The Ghanaian government must pay $2,500 to each of the 30 applicants, totaling $75,000.
– Prosecution or Release: The government is ordered to either commence prosecution against the applicants within two weeks or release them unconditionally.
– Human Rights Violation: The court held that Ghana’s actions contravened national and international legal standards, including Article 14(3) of Ghana’s Constitution and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Background:
The 30 individuals were detained for extended periods, with some held for over a year, without being brought to trial or given due process. The Ghanaian government justified the detention on grounds of national security, but the court ruled that detention must comply with the law, even in cases of national security.
This ruling highlights the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law in Ghana and serves as a reminder to governments to respect the fundamental rights of citizens and detainees.