Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Deputy Majority Leader (Mr
Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin):
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have
noted with joy that when an Hon
Member advances from the middle
bench to the front role, issues of
point of Order may never arise -- [Laughter] --
Mr Speaker, first, I commend
our Hon Colleague, Mr Francis-
Xavier Sosu, Member of Parliament
for Madina for bringing this to our
attention. The Statement makes
reference to some reports. I have
checked and verified some of them.
On some other statistics, I believe
there is more room for
improvement. The Hon Member
may later look at the Statement and,
perhaps, give much more
information so that we can make
reference to it.
Mr Speaker, but all in all, this is
a fellow who has made human
rights his own practice and we have
enjoyed him in the courts and he has
brought it right here to this
Chamber. I shall shed light on what
Hon Ahiafor said. He emphasised
the need for us to respect the rights
of others and know that when a
person has rights, there are duties
associated with it. In fact, the maker
of the Statement himself makes
reference to it. On that score, the
point I would want to make here is
that we must respect state
institutions that are there as pillars
of democracy to help with the
enforcement of our rights. It is in
giving confidence to them; it is in
respecting the role they play that we
can perhaps, expose their mischief
or to allow people to have
confidence in the systems they have
in place.
Mr Speaker, if we all go on an
attacking spree, sorry, we cannot
sustain this democracy. Sometimes,
when we blow things out of
proportion, we create an impression
as though things have got out of
hand when really that is not the
case. So I would want that to be
registered by way of my comments.
My second point is about access
to justice. Mr Speaker, in our police
cells and courts, sometimes the
police will tell a suspect or an
accused that when they go to court,
they should just plead guilty.
Sometimes, as a suspect, when they
are taking the statement, they force
the accused to admit to certain
things and say that through that
when it gets to the commander, the
person would have his or her
freedom. These are serious matters
that affect us. Sometimes people
say they are independent witnesses.
They walk on the corridors of police
stations; they are civilian
employees; these are people who
come under the control of the
police, and are used as witnesses in
our courts. Mr Speaker, these are
matters that affect justice delivery.
Also, all practitioners seem to be
in Accra, so in our district courts
outside of the capital, I would say,
there is no real justice. This is
because everything is in the hand of
the prosecution. When there is a
civil trial, people have no access to
lawyers. Is it a case that lawyers are
becoming very expensive to engage
or that lawyers are only interested in
the big jobs in Accra. What is the
State doing to provide legal services
to those who cannot afford it?
Mr Speaker, in this 21st Century
Ghana, we cannot continue to allow
this to be in our society. I am,
therefore, calling on the young
practitioners to make it a point to do
some pro bono in the area of human
rights.
Sometimes they can impose
upon themselves some two or three
years, or even one year outside of
the comfort of Accra. Mr Speaker, I
recalled that in 2010 at Dunkwa-
On-Offin Circuit Court, a lady was
jailed merely because at the Police
Station the Criminal Investigation
Department (CID) asked her to
admit to what she had not really
done. A good case had taken me
there so I had to intervene.
Fortunately, the judge had to do the
needful.
Mr Speaker, it is also important
for us to talk about the reforms that
we have introduced; even the
sentencing reforms. Now, our
judges are being encouraged to look
more at noncustodial sentencing
because of the overcrowding in our
prisons. In the case of women,
before a woman is sentenced after
conviction, a mandatory pregnancy
test is supposed to be conducted.
This is an important matter that we
have to let the world know because
it has been happening, and as a
practitioner, I have encountered one
or two situations that a pregnancy
test had to be taken.
Mr Speaker, to conclude, as my
third comment, I would want to say
that I disagree with aspects of the
Report that my respected learned
Hon Colleague for the Madina
Constituency relied on, specifically,
the United States (US) State
Department Report on Ghana in
2020. The aspect I strongly disagree
with include the following, and the
first one is the serious restriction on
the press. Mr Speaker, in this
country Ghana, there is no serious
restriction on press freedom; it
cannot be. I live in Ghana and I
believe that the Hon Member who
made the Statement himself would
agree with me that there is no
serious restriction on the press. The
context it has been put in creates the
general impression that perhaps
State actors have through
systematic means, placed
restrictions on press freedom. We
all know that is not the case in this
country.
Mr Speaker, the second point I
disagree with is the supposed
unjustified prosecution against
journalists. Mr Speaker, again, I
contend that in 2020 we never
experienced unjustified prosecution
against journalists in this country. It
is important for us to point out some
of the deficiencies in some of these
reports we rely on. It is one Ghana;
it is the image of Ghana; and it is the
country Ghana. It is fair to report on
happenings, but then also, it is
important to avoid certain
impressions that are not factual. I
would therefore encourage my Hon
Colleague to look at these seriously
in future statements to the House.
Mr Speaker, having said these, I
say that the Hon Sosu is making a
mark for himself. He is an Hon
Deputy Ranking Member, and it
tells us that his own Side has a lot of
respect for him. There is more room
for improvement, but I commend
his effort.
Mr Speaker, I thank you so
much for your kind attention.
