No one is above the Law – Attorney-General

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Joe Ghartey has made it clear that the 1992 Constitution of Ghana is based on rule of law and not on rule of man; therefore every individual in this country is equal before the law.

The only limitation to his responsibility at the A-G's office to prosecute people for example are those provided for in the Constitution, Mr. Ghartey said, adding that nobody in this country whether male or female, young or old, black or white is above the laws of this land.

The A-G and Minister of Justice said this over the weekend when some members of African Commission on Human and People's Rights secretariat signed an agreement with the government of Ghana to host the 41st session of the Association in Ghana.

He stated that for the past 50 years, Ghanaians have been striving for their fundamental human rights that were now and then withheld from them. But he was happy to note that the 1992 Constitution provides concise provisions that now protect the rights of the citizens of Ghana.

Comparing the 1992 Constitution with the African Charter, Joe Ghartey posited that Ghanaians enjoy maximum freedom. He stated that Act 1 of the African Charter states, among others that member state of the African Union shall recognize the rights and duties in the charter noting that in the same vein when one looks at Chapter Five of the 1992 Constitution, it recognizes the rights contained in the African Charter.

With regard to measures to give effect to them, the Attorney General noted that as a government, the NPP had recognized the rights of the African Commission by submitting to the jurisdiction of the commission recently, adding that there can be no better expression of government's recognition of the charter.

He said through out the 22 Acts of Chapter Five of the 1992 Constitution that include protection of right of life, protection of personal liberty, respect for human dignity, protection from slavery and forced labour, equality and freedom from discrimination, fair trial and administrative rights- among others- it gives an indication that Ghana recognizes the need to protect and defend her citizens.

The Representative of the ACHP, Albert Eno expressed the association's delight that in this Golden Jubilee, the government counts it necessary to invite the commission to hold the 41st session in Ghana. “We are very happy and very proud to be associated with this important event Ghana has been very instrumental and supportive of the work of ACHP since its inception in November 1987 and one of her members served on the commission for twelve years.