GHANA RANKS FIRST IN RULE OF LAW IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, A NEW GLOBAL STUDY FINDS

Through a new global study, it has been found out in Washington, DC in the United States of America, that Ghana ranks first among the Sub-Saharan African countries in five of nine dimensions, of the rule of law, according to the World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index TM, a new tool designed to measure countries' adherence to the rule of law.

It is the first time in Washington, DC, this week, the Index provides new data regarding a variety of dimensions of the rule of law, such as whether government officials are accountable under the law and whether legal institutions protect the fundamental rights and allow ordinary people access to democratic justice.

Rule of law protect citizens and eradicate poverty, violence, corruption, pandemics, and other threats to civil society. It is supposed to give every person on this planet a fair treatment s and allow the people to live in communities with a tolerable wide scope of justice and hope.

Ghana's highest scores: According to the study which introduces 37 indicators on the rule of law for 35 countries, Ghana ranks first among African nations in five of nine categories: government accountability, absence of corruption, clear and stable laws, fundamental rights and criminal justice.

Ghana's highest score is in the area of effective limits on government powers, checks and balances where the country ranks 12th and ahead of countries like South Africa or Argentina. Within this category, Ghana top-performs most other countries in guaranteeing freedom of expression.

Ghana's lowest scores: Ghana's lowest scores are in the area of order and security, ranking 26th out of 35 nations indexed, which is explained by the higher rates of crime and vigilante justice. According to a Rule of Law Index poll of 1,000 people in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale in 2009, 27 percent of respondents reported having experienced a burglary in the past 3 years. This rate is among the highest in the world.

According to the same poll, the majority of people in Ghana opined, it is more likely for a suspected criminal to be beaten by neighbors than to be handed over to security authorities.

Justice is measured through how laws are implemented and enforced in practice and how it affects people's lives'.

According to the NEW GLOBAL STUDY by the World Justice Project's, the Index currently covers 35 countries around the world and is set to expand to 70 countries by 2011 and 100 countries by 2012.

The rule of law achievement is a constant challenge and work in progress in all countries. The World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index is not designed to shame or blame, but to provide useful reference points for countries in the same regions, with comparable legal cultures and similar income levels.

FRANCIS TAWIAH (Duisburg – Germany)

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