Killing of 44 Ghanaians: Human Rights activists want Ex-Gambia Leader and his Soldiers Prosecuted

As part of the activities to commemorate the 2019 International Human Rights Day, the Coalition on Jammeh2Justice Ghana campaign (J2J), a team of Human Rights activists have called on the Government to fast track the move that would lead to the prosecution of ex-Gambia leader, Yahya Jammeh and his soldiers who killed the 44 innocent Ghanaians and other West Africa nationals in the Gambia in the year 2005.

Investigations carried out by J2J Ghana campaign and testimonies available at the Gambia Human Rights Commission indicate that the killing of Ghanaians and other West African migrants were ordered by the Ex-leader of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, now in exile in Equatorial Guinea.

In a symposium organized by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) under the theme: “Towards Justice and Effective Remedy for Ghanaians killed in the Gambia” former Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and Chairman of the symposium, Justice Emile Francis Short explained that the torture suffered by the migrants violates the prohibition against torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in Article 5 of the UDRH, Article 7 of ICCPR and chapter 4 and 5 of Ghana’s 1992 constitution.

“Also, the manner of the arrest of the migrants and detention without charge or trial violates the prohibition against arbitration arrest and detention of Article 9 of both UDHR and ICCPR as well as chapter 5 and 4 of Ghana’s constitution and Gambia respectively “, he said.

He again cited the Article 3 of the UDHR and Article 6 of ICCPR, chapter 5 and 4 of Ghana and Gambia’s constitution which attest to deprivation of life of the victims.

He therefore called on the government, non-state and other state actors to act and work together to ensure the extradition of former President of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh and his soldiers who unlawfully tortured and killed the innocent migrants and also compensate the surviving victims and families.

“The survivors and victims’ families must be supported to bring civil action against Gambian Ex- leader, Yahya Jammeh and the soldiers who participated in the killings should be brought before International or regional courts such as ECOWAS court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria and the African court on Human and People’s Rights in Arusha Tanzania”, he added.

Gambia’s National Human Rights Commission chairman, Emmanuel Joof argued that it is the  responsibility of National Human Rights Commission in both countries (Ghana and Gambia)  and the CSOs to make sure that justice is done in the case of the 44 Ghanaians killed including the families of the victims.

“There cannot be impunity for such hideous crimes. It cannot be condoned nor excused. We must send a strong warning to perpetrators and would-be perpetrators that Gambia and Ghana would not stand by while human rights are violated with impunity or where justice eludes victims or their families for lack of commitment. Yes, We Too Can!!”, he said.

Dignitaries present at the symposium included Director of CHRAJ, Dr. Isaac Lartey,  Executive Director of Amnesty International, Robert Akoto Amoafo, Executive Director of Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), William Nyarko, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator Jeggan Grey-Johnson-Advocacy, among others.

Source: Eric Nii Sackey || [email protected]