The United States Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights (USIDHR) in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has marked this year’s national Constitution Day in Kpando in the Volta region with a call on the current leadership of Ghana, to protect and respect the universal human rights and privileges of all citizens of the country and to continue to uphold the tenets of the 1992 republican constitution.
The Day is observed on 7th January of every year. After the first three constitutions were made meaningless by military coups, the fourth constitution was adopted after a referendum held on April 28, 1992, and established on January 7, 1993.
This day is thus celebrated each year to commemorate the efforts, maintain and sustain the Fourth republic over the years and the birthing of the 1992 constitution of Ghana and to promote the fundamental political principles, establishing the structure, procedures, powers and duties of the government, structure of the judiciary and the legislature as well as spell out the fundamental rights and responsibilities of citizens.
The celebration was marked with a route march by school children through the principal streets of Kpando after which a public sensitization gathering was held on the constitution of Ghana, Human Rights Education and Citizenship and was organized and supervised by the NCCE.
Country representative of the USIDHR and the East Africa Chapter Leader of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), Desben Somabe, PhD, addressing the gathering outlined some articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He commended Ghana for it’s efforts in ensuring that the 1992 republican constitution was respected over the years.
He raised some concerns in relation to the relevance of the constitution to the citizens – how does the constitution favor the poor, tortured and the unlawfully detained?, citing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [ICCPR] which states that everyone has the right to life and the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of his/her life – This right may not be time bound or suspended in times of emergency.
The Institute further issued a statement on some petinent constitutional and human rights issues made available to the media.
The celebration was marked on the theme: Inclusion, Freedom and Justice for all…
By Leo Nelson