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96 total results foundAuthor: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Title: Victimization Survey in Ghana: Executive Summary Summary: This report presents the summary of the major findings of the crime victimization survey carried out in four metropolitan areas in Ghana in 2009. The areas are Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, Accra Metropolitan Area, Kumasi Metropolitan Area and Tamale Metropolitan Area. Details: Vienna: UNODC, 2010. 11p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Ghana Keywords: Crime Statistics Shelf Number: 119237 |
Author: DevTech Systems, Inc. Title: The Safe Schools Program: Ghana Assessment Report, January 6-16, 2004 Summary: From January 6 through 16, a five-person team from the Washington, D.C.-based Safe Schools Program (SSP) traveled to Ghana. The overall objectives of this first exploratory trip were to: • Inform the team of the extent of the problem of school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV); • Understand how existing programs address SRGBV or could be used to address it; and • Identify individuals and local partners from the key informant interviews to participate in the Advocates Network. Over the course of the visit, the Safe Schools team collected reports, materials and data and conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key informants from the Ministry, USAID and other donor agencies, NGOs, and community level organizations (e.g. Parent Teacher Associations [PTAs]) to identify: (a) Types of gender-based violence; (b) Issues, gaps and what works in existing programs; and (c) Recommendations. The initial recommendations contained herein reflect the complex nature of the issue and range from policy issues at the national level, to procedural and systems issues within the educational institutions, to educating and involving communities, to taking action at the individual girl and boy child level, by involving men and boys and nurturing the development of healthy gender equitable relationships based on respect, rights and responsibilities. The results of the data analysis from the interviews includes the following three overarching recommendations: 1) Plan for a complex response; 2) Put systems of support in place before you encourage victims1 to come forward; and 3) Work with men and boys. In addition, the SSP Team identified programmatic recommendations in seven areas that are detailed in Section V, including the gaps/issues, general recommendations, and identification of programs that work in Ghana. These seven gaps/issues identified for programmatic response include: 1) Lack of visibility of SRGBV on the national agenda; 2) Lack of systems and procedures for implementing code of conduct; 3) Gap in support services for victims of GBV; 4) Gaps in curricula and teaching regarding GBV; 5) Lack of awareness, involvement and accountability of the community; 6) Lack of awareness, involvement and accountability of the parents; and 7) Lack of opportunities and support for children to build healthy, equitable relationships. Details: Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development, 2004. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2011 at: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-ghana-assessment-report.pdf Year: 2004 Country: Ghana Keywords: Gender Shelf Number: 122764 |
Author: Sosuh, Margaret Mansa Title: Border Security in Ghana: Challenges and Prospects Summary: The threats that confront border security exist since the creation of borders by the colonial imperial powers. Unlike the developing world, the institutions in the developed world mandated to monitor their borders are often times able to confront these threats. In most developing world as well as Ghana, adequate institutional capacity to enforce the rule at the borders is one of the main challenges that face border security. This paper has therefore examined the dynamics as it pertains to Ghana and has identified among others that the institutional challenges centre around lack of modern border infrastructure and facilities, capacity building of the agents directly involved in border security and those that lend support to apprehend and deal with suspects. Lack of public knowledge on border issues also compounds the problem. Regarding the drawbacks, the paper has suggested that the states commitment to ensuring effective border security must go beyond legislation and be exhibited in the provision of border infrastructure. Other actors involved in the security issues at the borders are also to contribute their quota to enhance the state of security at the borders. Details: Accra, Ghana: Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, 2011. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: KAIPTC Occasional Paper No. 32: Accessed January 27, 2012 at: http://www.kaiptc.org/Publications/Occasional-Papers/Documents/Occasional-Paper-32-Margaret.aspx Year: 2011 Country: Ghana Keywords: Border Security (Ghana) Shelf Number: 123787 |
Author: Agbenya, Lilian Title: Child Labour Trafficking in the Lake Volta Fishery of Ghana: A Case Study of Ogetse in the Krachi West District of the Volta Region Summary: Child labour trafficking in the Lake Volta fishery of Ghana is one of the prominent issues receiving immense attention from various organizations, NGOs, Civil society within and outside Ghana and the government of Ghana. This is due to the adverse impact on the children’s developments. This thesis sought to find out the major causes of this phenomenon, tasks performed by these victims, the recruitment processes involved in this human trade and the condition under which these children work. It further seeks to investigate the measures and interventions put in place to curb this unabated problem. An exploratory study approach was adopted which led to the selection of Ogetse, one of the receiving communities along the Lake Volta in the Krachi West district of the Volta region. The data was collected using different data collection strategies and was analyzed qualitatively. Various theories of poverty were used in this study to explain the findings. The findings of this study reveal that poverty plays a major role in fuelling this problem however, other complex factors such as cultural norms, migration and institutional failures also contributes enormously to the problem. The children who are mostly boys between the ages of six and seventeen years performed tasks, such as fishing, mending of nets, diving and household chores. These children are made to work under extreme harsh conditions, waking up very early in the mornings at 3am or 4am and going to bed late in the evenings (11pm, 12am) mostly throughout the week without going to school and having little to eat and sometimes being flogged by their masters at the little offence. It also indicates that parents, family members, the fishers and agents are involved in this human trade. In addition the study also revealed that some effort is being made by government, NGOs, Civil Organizations and other institutions to combat this problem. Details: Tromso, Norway: Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, 2009. 92p. Source: Master thesis in International Fisheries Management: Internet Resource: Accessed April 24, 2012 at http://munin.uit.no/bitstream/handle/10037/1866/thesis.pdf?sequence=2 Year: 2009 Country: Ghana Keywords: Child Labor (Ghana) Shelf Number: 125052 |
Author: Boateng, Francis D. Title: Public Trust in the Police: Identifying Factors that Shape Trust in the Ghanaian Police Summary: Though much have been conducted to examine the influences on public trust in the police in developed countries, little or no such studies have been conducted in developing countries, limiting what we know in those countries thereby creating a gap in the academic literature. To fill this gap, the present study examined factors that influence Ghanaians’ trust in their police. Using a representative field survey data collected in Summer, 2011 in Accra, Ghana (N=493), I found that fear of crime and satisfaction with the police are significant predictors of public trust in the Ghanaian police. Policy implications of the findings are discussed. Details: International Police Executive Symposium, 2012. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper No. 42: Accessed July 25, 2012 at: http://www.ipes.info/WPS/WPS_No_42.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ghana Keywords: Police (Ghana) Shelf Number: 125773 |
Author: Justesen, Mogens K. Title: Exploiting the Poor: Bureaucratic Corruption and Poverty in Africa Summary: Corruption is a major source of slow development in Africa – the poorest region of the world. While extant research has focused on the causes and consequences of corruption at the macro-level, less effort has been devoted to understanding the micro-foundation of corruption, as well as the mechanisms through which poverty may be related to corruption and bribery. In this paper, we develop a simple model of the relationship between poverty and corruption. The model suggests that poor people are more likely to be victims of corrupt behavior by street-level government bureaucrats. Poor people often rely heavily on services provided by governments and are therefore more likely to be met by demands for bribes in return for obtaining those services. We test this proposition using micro-level survey data from the Afrobarometer. Since individuals are surveyed in different countries, we use multilevel regressions to estimate the effect of poverty on people’s experience with paying bribes. The results show that poor people are indeed much more prone to pay bribes to government officials. This suggests that the people who are worst off materially are also more likely to be victims of corruption. Details: Legon-Accra, Ghana: Afrobarometer, 2012. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper No. 139: Accessed September 13, 2012 at: http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Digital-Library/Publications/Detail/?ots591=0c54e3b3-1e9c-be1e-2c24-a6a8c7060233&lng=en&id=151822 Year: 2012 Country: Ghana Keywords: Bribery Shelf Number: 126327 |
Author: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources(IUCN) Title: Parks and Reserves of Ghana: Management Effectiveness Assessment of Protected Areas Summary: Ghana is endowed with diverse ecosystems, which results in a relatively high degree of diversity of plant and animal species. The network of protected areas is a fair representation of all these ecosystems namely: Guinean savannah woodland, transition between dry forest and guinea savannah, dry semi-deciduous forest, moist evergreen forest, transitional zone between moistevergreen and moist semi-deciduous forest types, and dry evergreen forest. The diversity of Ghana Wildlife Protected Areas (WPAs) protects a very wide variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, vascular plants and butterflies. Some WPAs are part of the upper Guinean rain forest which is very rich in biodiversity. The transboundary nature of other parks like Kyabobo makes it possible for buffalos and elephants to move between Ghana and Togo (Fazao-Malfakassa National Park). In Ghana, the Wildlife Division (WD) of the Forestry Commission is responsible for the protection and management of wildlife protected areas (WPAs). Until 1999 the Wildlife Division was known as the Wildlife Department, a single, centralized government institution directly under the Ministry of Lands and Forestry, now Lands and Natural Resources. Since its creation in 1967, WD has been severely under-resourced and unable to perform its mandate effectively. This has led to a serious reduction in management capability and, as a result, the conservation of a lot of PAs has suffered. There are twenty one (21) WPAs in Ghana totalling 1,347,600 ha or 5.6% of the country. The protected area network includes 7 National Parks, 6 Resource Reserves, 2 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 1 Strict Nature Reserve and 5 coastal wetlands. These PAs are of economic importance as they contribute to improving standards of living of communities surrounding them. Livelihood support programmes exist in some communities surrounding the park, as well as community based tourism programmes. Some plant species are used for wood production and some of the PAs contain medicinal plants. Some PAs also have cultural, religious or spiritual significance with shrines and sacred grooves, for example, and some have aesthetic attractions such as the Bamboo Cathedral and Rapids in Ankasa; Waterfalls, Magnificent Caves in Bomfobiri, and Kakum. WPAs in Ghana are subject to pressures and threats, the main pressures being poaching, bush fires and land conversion due to farming or grazing around or within the PAs. Illegal gathering of wild plants and animals (poaching) is present in all PAs at different degrees of severity. There is a high demand for bush meat, rattan and chewing stick. Rattan is poached for craft; elephants are hunted for their tusks, and leopard for skin. But killing of animals is also a result of human/wildlife conflict. Poaching is less severe in some PAs because of better law enforcement or the setting up of community initiatives that regulate harvesting of non-timber forest products, which contributes to reduction in poaching. Land conversion is mainly due to cocoa farming outside the parks in southwestern Ghana. In Shai Hills, illegal grazing by livestock affects the overall productivity of the reserve. These pressures increase the PAs' vulnerability, which is an issue in most of the PAs. Indeed, there is high demand for resources for cultural and economic purpose; in some parks like Mole, group hunting is a cultural practice, and bush fires are sometimes caused by fire festival, and for the installation of a chief, part of some key species like elephant or lion are sometimes needed. Details: Ouagadougou, BF: UICN/PACO, 2010. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2013 at: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2010-073.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ghana Keywords: Animal Poaching Shelf Number: 128007 |
Author: Ghana. Statistical Service Title: Victimization Survey in Ghana (2009). Summary: The 2009 Crime Victimization Survey in Ghana was a household survey carried out in four Metropolitan Areas - Sekondi-Takoradi, Accra, Kumasi and Tamale Metropolitan Areas. It was a pilot study designed to facilitate a broader understanding of crime and its burden on the citizenry. While in the past only police and criminal justice data were used to measure crime, it is now widely accepted that such information alone is not sufficient and should be complemented with victimization survey results. During the survey, interviews were conducted among a representative sample of the population in the four areas. People were asked whether or not they have been victims of crime in the past five years. Different crime areas were considered in the survey. Objective The main objective of the study is to collect information on citizens' first hand experiences in crime and criminal justice. The specific objectives are: Promoting community and victim centered crime prevention strategies Providing accurate and reliable information as the basis for the development of national policies as well as internationally comparable crime and criminal justice data databases Improve police-community relations by: (a) Revealing the propensity to report crimes (b) Exploring the level of satisfaction with the patrolling activities upon report (c) Increasing the use of individual and household crime prevention measures Building the capacity of Ghana Statistical Service in conducting crime victimization survey. Details: Accra: Ghana Statistical Service, 2010. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 29, 2016 at: http://www.statsghana.gov.gh/nada/index.php/catalog/54/related_materials Year: 2010 Country: Ghana Keywords: Crime Statistics Shelf Number: 139532 |
Author: Institute of Development Studies Title: Domestic Violence in Ghana: Prevalence, Incidence and Causes Summary: Civil society and governments around the world have long acknowledged that violence against women and girls is a major public policy and human rights concern. The persistence of domestic violence threatens the achievement of gender equality, and the empowerment of women as defined in the Millennium Development Goals. In addition, domestic violence is associated with poor physical and mental health, higher risks of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, restricted livelihood options and choices, lower human capital and lower productivity (Garcia-Moreno et al. 2005; Moosa 2012). In 2008, 38.7 percent of ever-married Ghanaian women between the ages of 15 and 49 had experienced physical, emotional or sexual violence by a husband or partner at some point in their lives. Although a lot of research and policy around domestic violence issues concentrates on women and girls, men and boys can equally be affected by domestic violence: 27.6 percent of Ghanaian males reported to have experienced physical or emotional violence exerted by their wife or partner at some point during their lives (GSS, GHS AND ICF MACRO 2008). The main aim of this study is to provide an in-depth understanding of trends and determinants of domestic violence in Ghana based on state-of-the-art evidence and analysis, which will strengthen advocacy and advance legal, policy and programmatic interventions aimed at countering domestic violence in Ghana. The proposed research aims to accomplish two main objectives: Provide a systematic overview of existing information and data on the prevalence, incidence, nature and key drivers of domestic violence in Ghana that will serve as knowledge base for informed decision-making about interventions. Collect and analyse a range of qualitative and quantitative rigorous evidence on trends and determinants of domestic violence among women and men in Ghana, which can be employed to monitor trends and identify progress made in future domestic violence interventions. The project will be conducted by a highly skilled team that brings together individuals from several experienced and reputable institutions, each of which is considered a leader within its area of work. These are the Institute of Development Studies (Brighton, UK), Ghana Statistical Service (Accra, Ghana) and the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research at the University of Ghana (Accra, Ghana). Details: Brighton, UK: IDS, 2016. 374p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 29, 2016 at: http://www.ids.ac.uk/project/domestic-violence-in-ghana-prevalence-incidence-and-causes Year: 2016 Country: Ghana Keywords: Domestic Violence Shelf Number: 140071 |
Author: Antwi, Alex Title: Social Reintegration of Offenders and Recidivism in Ghana Summary: In Ghana, the issue of offenders returning home safely to lead law-abiding lives has been a daunting task. Every year, hundreds of offenders leave the prison but relapse into criminal behaviour sooner or later after their release. It is on record that 24% of ex-offenders recidivate again and again. This implies that secondary crime prevention strategies in Ghana are ineffective in reforming, rehabilitating and reintegrating the offenders. The question this study sought to address is: what is the nature of the transition of offenders in Ghana? In addressing this question, a sample of offenders who were recidivists, case managers, social workers, prison evangelists and family members of the recidivists were purposively engaged in in-depth interviews. The findings suggest that most ex-offenders re-offend because of individual characteristics, family relationships, community context and penal policies which have been categorized into the institutional push and pull factors as well as social and community push factors. The institutional push factors stem from the fact that penal policies in Ghana mainly focus on custody, deterrence and retribution rather than rehabilitation. Consequently, prison-based interventions are ineffective in transforming the inmates into law-abiding citizens because governments are not obliged to finance rehabilitation programmes. The social and community push factors find expression in social rejection. The social system outside the prison is coercive and non-supportive. Although most ex-prisoners go back to their families, they face coercive interpersonal relationships. In addition, most of them do not get the needed support from the larger society due to the stigma of prison record. The negative perceptions of the public on prisoners have remained static and these reinforce the stigmatized identities of ex-offenders in Ghana. As a consequence, most ex-offenders lack legitimate support from micro and macro sources. The lack of civic engagement in conventional activities prevents ex-offenders from having a meaningful interactions with pro-social others and build new identities. The weak ties to conventional society also imply that informal controls which are critical in criminal desistence also become weak. This produces anger, strain, low self-esteem, lack of self-control and a sense of social rejection. Thus most ex-offenders in Ghana tend to seek support from illegitimate sources by developing the criminal capital, leading to re-offending behaviours. The study recommended a shift of emphasis in penal policy reforms from punitive to rehabilitative measures so as to hold governments responsible for financing rehabilitation in Ghana prisons. Further, ex-offenders should be re-engaged in civic activities to enhance their acceptance back into their communities in Ghana. Description: Details: Legon, Accra: University of Ghana, 2015. 265p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 30, 2016 at: http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/8364 Year: 2015 Country: Ghana Keywords: Offender Rehabilitation Shelf Number: 140526 |
Author: Ampong, George Oppong Title: A study on violence against children with special focus on sexual exploitation and child sex tourism in Ghana. Summary: The study was conducted in eighteen (18) communities in the Kumasi-Mampong Metropolis in the Ashanti Region of Ghana and focuses on four thematic areas of violence against children: the forms of violence; prevalence rate of violence; the effect of violence against children; and existing protective mechanisms of violence against children. The report "A study on violence against children with special focus on sexual exploitation and child sex tourism in Ghana" provides opportunity for evidence-based advocacy on violence against children at the local communities, district, national, regional and international levels in terms of policy, programme, action and strategic initiatives Details: Defence for Children, Ghana; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, 2016. 85p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2016 at: https://issuu.com/defenceforchildren/docs/violence_against_children_report_-_ Year: 2016 Country: Ghana Keywords: Child Sex Tourism Shelf Number: 145379 |
Author: Darkwah, Akosua K. Title: Beyond Domestic Violence Laws: Women's Experiences and Perceptions of Protection Services in Ghana Summary: This research reviews the response to Domestic Violence in Africa, focusing in on Ghana, and asks 'What are women's experiences and perceptions of protection services provided to survivors of domestic violence in Ghana?' based on interviews at a shelter in Accra. In the first part of the paper, particular attention is given to the different ways in which the institutional model has been developed in Africa in general and in Ghana in particular. We analyse the particular process through which domestic violence appeared on the public agenda in each individual country. We also pay attention to the various evidence-based research studies available on the impact of various preventive, punitive and protective components of domestic violence legislation. In the respective case studies, attention will shift to focus on the ways in which the model of protection is designed in each country and the range of protection services that are offered to survivors of domestic violence. We will then explore the concrete experiences of women who are survivors of domestic violence. Being one of the central institutions to provide protection to survivors, the shelter is the main unit of analysis in the research. Details: Lima, Peru: ELLA (Evidence and Lessons from Latin America), 2016. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Regional Evidence Papers; Accessed October 27, 2016 at: http://ella.practicalaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/REP_CEGENSA-_Beyond-Domestic-Violence-Laws.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ghana Keywords: Domestic Violence Shelf Number: 145013 |
Author: Aning, Kwesi Title: Getting Smart and Scaling Up: The Impact of Organized Crime on Governance in Developing Countries. A Case Study of Ghana Summary: his case study presents findings of field research on the impact of organized crime on governance and development in Ghana. The objective is not to paint a negative picture of Ghana, but rather to highlight core structural weaknesses that enable organized crime to flourish largely uncontested, placing significant, albeit not immediately obvious, pressure on the democratic and development gains made over the past two decades. The case study is divided into five sections. Section I begins with an overview of the political context in Ghana, with specific reference to the emergence of democratic politics and the nature of the political economy in the post-independence era. It reviews trends in Ghana's economic development and governance since 1992, and examines the nature of formal and informal institutions and prevalent norms of behaviour. Section II examines the nature and scope of organized crime in Ghana, namely drug trafficking, money laundering, illegal mining, electronic waste dumping, cybercrime, human trafficking, and small arms trafficking and manufacturing. Section III focuses on the impact of organized crime on governance and development, while Section IV suggests some initial recommendations. Details: New York: Center on International Cooperation, New York University, 2013. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 14, 2017 at: https://www.gov.uk/dfid-research-outputs/getting-smart-and-scaling-up-the-impact-of-organized-crime-on-governance-in-developing-countries-a-case-study-of-ghana Year: 2013 Country: Ghana Keywords: Cybercrime Shelf Number: 146138 |
Author: Amnesty International Title: Locked Up and Forgotten: The Need to Abolish the Death Penalty in Ghana Summary: Death sentences in Ghana continue to be imposed. At the end of 2016, 148 people were on death row, all sentenced to death for murder. While the last executions were carried out in July 1993, there is no official moratorium on executions in Ghana. Research carried out by Amnesty International in Ghana has highlighted concerns with the use of the death penalty, access to fair trial rights and poor prison conditions. Amnesty International calls on the Ghanaian authorities to commute the death sentences of all people on death row and to abolish the death penalty for all crimes. Details: London: AI, 2017. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 27, 2017 at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/act50/6268/2017/en/ Year: 2017 Country: Ghana Keywords: Capital Punishment Shelf Number: 146520 |
Author: Amnesty International Title: 'Prisoners Are Bottom of the Pile': The Human Rights of Inmates in Ghana Summary: Prisons in Ghana are failing to meet international standards. remand or unconvicted prisoners can spend years awaiting trial and may be held in conditions that amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. both unconvicted and convicted male prisoners experience unacceptably high levels of overcrowding in the neglected and run-down prison system. some cells are so overcrowded that when sleeping, inmates are packed tightly together and cover the entire floor space. food supplies to prisoners have been grossly inadequate. although the authorities acknowledge this, immediate implementation of increased rations is necessary. access to health care is also far below acceptable standards. the Ghanaian prison regime offers limited access to education and training for inmates. Yet even these meagre opportunities are not available to remand or unconvicted prisoners or those held under sentence of death - a penalty that Amnesty International opposes in all cases. this report, based on prison visits, interviews and other research, documents prison conditions in Ghana and calls for urgently needed reform. Details: London: AI, 2012. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 4, 2017 at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr28/002/2012/en/ Year: 2012 Country: Ghana Keywords: Human Rights Abuses Shelf Number: 146697 |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: "No Choice but to Deny Who I Am": Summary: Ghana has a mixed record in its treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Ghanaian officials have publicly supported an end to violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but fail to repeal the law that contributes to discrimination. Section 104(1)(b) of its Criminal Offences Act criminalizes "unnatural carnal knowledge." The law is a colonial legacy that is rarely, if ever, enforced, and unlike several of its neighbors, Ghana has not taken steps in recent years to stiffen penalties against consensual same-sex conduct or to expressly criminalize sexual relations between women. Nevertheless, the inference that Section 104(1)(b) criminalizes adult consensual same-sex conduct contributes to a climate in which LGBT people are very frequently victims of violence, extortion and discrimination in many different aspects of daily life, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Based on 114 interviews with LGBT people in Accra, Tamale, Kumasi, and Cape Coast, "No Choice but to Deny Who I Am" found that section 104(1)(b) fuels violence against lesbian, bisexual and gender non-conforming women in the home and LGBT people more generally in communities where they live. The report also found that, homophobic statements by local and national government officials, local traditional elders, and senior religious leaders foment homophobia and in some cases, incite violence. Human Rights Watch calls on the Parliament of Ghana to repeal Section 104(1)(b), and on the government of Ghana to adopt measures to monitor and report on hate speech and to protect LGBT persons from all forms of discrimination, intimidation and violence. Ghanaian authorities should also engage in a constructive dialogue with the LGBT population to better understand its needs - with a particular focus on addressing the intersecting forms of discrimination that affect lesbian and bisexual women -- and ensure that the necessary legislative and policy measures are taken to ensure their safety, dignity, and equality. Details: New York; HRW, 2018. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2018 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/ghana0118_web.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Ghana Keywords: Bias-Motivated Crimes Shelf Number: 149133 |
Author: Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Title: Decriminalising and Declassifying Petty Offences in Ghana: A Research Report Summary: Petty offences have existed as part of the criminal law of England and were incorporated in the laws of Ghana following its colonisation. Modern trends in governance, human rights and the rule of law have triggered reforms in the criminal law of a number of countries Law reform towards decriminalisation of petty offences has also been influenced by the disproportionate impact of the enforcement of such laws on the poor, disadvantaged and marginalised sections of the society. While the ills of the criminal justice system are well-documented in various studies and reports, there is no specific research conducted on the treatment of petty offences in Ghana's criminal justice discourse. The influence of the British Common Law tradition on Ghana's criminal justice system had laid heavily in ensuring a rather comprehensive codification of offences in the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and other laws providing for offences. While there have been efforts in the United Kingdom to decriminalise certain acts, which appear to be minor infractions of a criminal nature, Ghana has not followed suit in identifying petty offences and decriminalising or declassifying them where necessary. It is against this background that CHRI with support from Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) embarked on this research project to provide preliminary evidence in this uncharted area of the criminal justice system in Ghana to contribute to the ongoing efforts at reforms in the system. This would enhance and encourage the use of a more informed and holistic approach to reforming the system, rather than a skewed approach focusing largely on trial and post-trial processes and outcomes. This study shows that there is no clear definition of what constitutes a 'petty offence' in Ghana although the results show that there are indeed offences that fall into this category. While the convention delineation of offences into misdemeanours, felonies and serious offences exists in Ghana, misdemeanours (which constitute the least serious category) are not always petty offences. Indeed, there are efforts to make some of them even more serious offences, for example, corruption. The legislative trend also appears to be towards increasing the gravity of offences, rather than to lessening. Thus, the conclusion may be reached that Ghana's legal system is yet to fully engage with the concept and practice of decriminalisation and/or declassification of petty offences. The results from the data gathered point to a need for decriminalisation or declassification of certain offences. Key informants identify offences, such as petty stealing, fighting, etc as worthy of decriminalisation for reasons among which are the placing of undue pressure on the criminal justice system, such offences affecting the poor and vulnerable and providing the opportunity for law enforcement agencies to violate the basic rights of suspects. Persons who are arrested for petty offences do not always enjoy full legal protection afforded by the respect for due process rights in these circumstances. The study therefore makes the following recommendations: Nuisance offences should be decriminalised to make them tortious liability or be made statutory offences such that they are handled by the local government institutions. Alternative sanctions to imprisonment such as probation, rehabilitation, and fines should be used. Where decriminalisation is not possible, it is recommended that the offence in question is declassified and operable within the scope of Bye-laws passed by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). Government should implementation a range of non-custodial sentencing measures as punishments for minor offences and restrict traditional custodial sentences to punishing more serious crimes. Law enforcement agencies should be trained on international protocols like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the African harter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and other soft law sources including the Fair Trial Principles in Africa. Details: London: CHRI, 2018. 75p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 27, 2018 at: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/download/1529668527DECRIMINALISING%20&%20DECLASSIFYING%20PETTY%20OFFENCES%20IN%20GHANA,%20A%20RESEARCH%20REPORT.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Ghana Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Shelf Number: 151269 |
Author: Environmental Justice Foundation Title: China's Hidden Fleet in West Africa: A Spotlight on Illegal Practices within Ghana's Industrial Trawl Sector Summary: Executive Summary According to Ghana's Fisheries Act of 2002, foreign interests are not permitted to engage in Ghana’s industrial fishing sector by way of joint ventures. This restriction applies to all local (i.e. Ghana-flagged) industrial and semi-industrial vessels, with an exception carved out for tuna vessels. The restriction purports to ensure that the financial benefits accruing from the trawl sector are retained within the country, thereby contributing to Ghana's socio-economic development, rather than being sent overseas. In spite of the existence of these restrictions, foreign interests, in particular from China, are known to be extensive within Ghana’s industrial trawl sector. Chinese companies operate through Ghanaian "front" companies to import their vessels into the Ghanaian fleet register and obtain a licence to fish, setting up opaque corporate structures to circumvent the nationality criteria in the law. With the balance of control invariably resting with the Chinese investor, such arrangements quite clearly contravene the spirit and purpose of the legislation, if not the letter of the law. The result is a complete lack of transparency as regards the true nature of ownership of industrial trawl vessels operating in Ghana. In official sources, such as the vessel licence list and the database of vessels maintained by IHS Seaweb, only the Ghanaian "front" company appears. Further investigation reveals, however, that in reality up to 90-95% of Ghana’s trawl fleet may have some Chinese involvement. This lack of transparency is problematic for a number of reasons, particularly in disguising the true beneficiaries of profits flowing from illicit activities in Ghana’s trawl sector, preventing those individuals from being held to account. In recent years, Ghana’s trawl sector has been plagued by illegalities, most notably the targeting of juvenile and small pelagic fish for trans-shipment at sea to specially adapted canoes (known as "saiko"). Despite being illegal, saiko fishing has increased in recent years, contributing to the rapid deterioration of Ghana’s fisheries resources, and putting livelihoods and food security at risk. The findings of this study highlight the urgent need for extensive reforms in Ghana’s industrial trawl sector, to ensure that fishing activities are carried out in a legal and sustainable manner. As a matter of priority, all necessary steps must be taken to end the illegal and destructive practice of saiko fishing, and to reduce the fishing effort of the industrial trawl fleet in line with scientific advice on the status of fish stocks. Critically, there is a compelling need for greater transparency in the sector, to ensure that the perpetrators of illegal activities can be held to account for their acts. While reducing the cost-burden of management and enforcement operations, improving transparency around fishing agreements would also help to address inequities in benefit flows, whereby local fishing communities and the country as a whole lose out in unbalanced arrangements with foreign operators. The responsibility for these reforms falls on both the Ghanaian and Chinese governments. The Chinese government plays the key role in supporting the fishing operations of its nationals overseas through subsidies and other forms of incentives. Its recent attempt to crack down on illicit activities of Chinese operators in West Africa is to be welcomed. It is imperative that this momentum be sustained, and that Chinese distant water fishing operations under third country flags such as Ghana do not escape scrutiny. Details: London, UK: Environmental Justice Foundation, 2018. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 22, 2019 at: https://ejfoundation.org/reports/chinas-hidden-fleet-in-west-africa-a-spotlight-on-illegal-practices-within-ghanas-industrial-trawl-sector Year: 0 Country: Ghana Keywords: China Shelf Number: 154320 |
Author: International Organization for Migration Title: Standard Operating Procedures to Combat Human Trafficking in Ghana with an Emphasis on Child Trafficking Summary: Over the past 15 years, Ghana has taken significant steps towards restoring justice for victims of trafficking. To succeed in this fight and fully implement the existing law and policy; however, national stakeholders must coordinate their respective efforts to combat human trafficking. One major challenge to coordination has been the lack of common standards for assistance and referral guidelines for all national stakeholders. Guided by law and international good practices, these standard operating procedures (SOPs) answer that call, containing information relevant to all national stakeholders in a position to combat human trafficking. These SOPs were developed through the framework of the Child Protection Compact Partnership, a bilateral agreement between the United States of America and Ghana, and guided by key stakeholder inputs at the national, regional and district levels, and with participation of both government and non-government agencies. As reference material, certain chapters will be more relevant than others depending on the reader's functional role and responsibility. Chapter 1 is widely relevant as it describes identification and screening protocols, a shared responsibility among stakeholders. Chapter 2 is for caregivers, especially social workers, as it explores the trauma-informed assistance process. The second chapter is followed by a special chapter that outlines the human trafficking legal framework and is aimed at a broad audience. Chapter 3 guides law enforcement officials through a victim-centred investigation process, while chapter 4 is also meant primarily for law enforcement officials as it offers strategies to prosecute suspected human traffickers. Finally, chapter 5 presents a data-driven referral and case management system. Details: Geneva, SWIT: IOM, 2017. 368p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 4, 2019 at: https://publications.iom.int/books/standard-operating-procedures-combat-human-trafficking-ghana-emphasis-child-trafficking Year: 2017 Country: Ghana Keywords: Child Labor Shelf Number: 154801 |
Author: International Justice Mission Title: Child Trafficking into Forced Labor on Lake Volta, Ghana: A Mixed Methods Assessment Summary: Background and Introduction: Past studies have demonstrated the presence of child work, child labor, and child trafficking within Lake Volta's fishing industry - highlighting that many children live outside the legal safeguards Ghana has established to protect child welfare - and have also documented the hazards and hardships faced by these children. However, prior to this mixed-methods baseline study, the extent of child trafficking into forced labor on Lake Volta could only be inferred. The purpose of this baseline study was to document the scope and nature of child trafficking in Lake Volta's fishing industry. Methodology: IJM conducted two primary data collection efforts: 1) an operational assessment in the southern region of Lake Volta in 2013; and 2) a qualitative research study in destination and source communities in 2015. 1. Operational assessment in the southern region of Lake Volta: In 2013, IJM conducted an operational assessment on Lake Volta to determine the scale of child trafficking into forced labor. This assessment was conducted in IJM's intended project area (the southern portion of the lake, which ranges from south of the Abotasi fishing village and east of the Akosombo Dam). Over the course of 17 days during June and July, data collectors conducted interviews with children and/or adults in a total of 982 occupied boats (canoes) classifying the trafficking status of all children interviewed or observed. 2. Qualitative study in destination and source communities: In 2015, IJM hired a local Ghanaian research firm to conduct in-depth qualitative research in the top three destination and top three source communities identified by the southern operational assessment. In total, the study team conducted 32 focus group discussions with targeted community members involved in Lake Volta’s fishing industry - including young adults who had worked in the fishing industry as children; men in the fishing industry; women in destination communities who host children; and parents/guardians who send children to Lake Volta - and interviewed 51 key informants. To further triangulate information, the study team documented five accounts with survivors of trafficking and profiled six fishing villages in which focus group discussions were conducted. Results: Findings from the distinct yet complementary studies in 2013 and 2015 reveal that the majority of children working in Lake Volta's fishing industry are 10 years old or younger. This shows that the majority of children are too young to legally conduct the hazardous tasks inherent in many aspects of the fishing industry. Although the 2013 operational assessment overwhelmingly found boys working on Lake Volta (99.3% of children on the southern region of the lake were boys), the 2015 study found that girls also work in - and are trafficked into - the fishing industry. The findings demonstrate that girls have different roles in the fishing industry, completing most tasks somewhere onshore or further inland instead of on the lake where the 2013 assessment occurred. The 2015 study also revealed that both boys and girls have physically demanding, and sometimes hazardous, roles in Lake Volta’s fishing industry. The 2013 operational assessment found that more than half (57.6%, 444/771) of children working on southern Lake Volta's waters were trafficked into forced labor. In 2015, each of the fishing communities sampled during the qualitative study confirmed the presence of child trafficking. Across destination communities, most respondents estimated that 60% or more of the children working in the fishing industry were born in other communities. In source communities, most respondents estimated that between 20-50% of children leave the community specifically to work in Lake Volta's fishing industry. Data collection in 2013 and 2015 found that children trafficked into the fishing industry had contractual agreements for their exploitation, which were frequently between the trafficker and the child's parent/guardian. The 2015 study found that while many perpetrators may be low-income fishermen themselves, they do not use trafficked children merely to survive. In fact, exploiting trafficked children enabled them to send their biological children to school and provide better accommodations and clothing for their own family. One male survivor accounted that, "We were more or less like house slaves, because their own children did nothing." Thus, several factors distinguished trafficked from non-trafficked children, including: access to education, working conditions - such as working longer hours and being assigned more intense, hazardous, or difficult tasks - and improper clothing and shelter. Physical violence committed against children was widespread in Lake Volta's fishing industry, with parents/guardians in source communities reporting that children were "beaten like goats." While trafficked children overwhelmingly experienced violence, this was not unique to trafficked children due to the cultural acceptance of physical discipline in Ghana. Qualitative data in 2015 revealed that traffickers controlled children through violence and limiting access to food; and sometimes kept older boys in their employment through sexual rewards and marriage. The latter control tactics rendered girls in the fishing industry vulnerable to multiple forms of victimization. These means of control combined with the working and living conditions affected trafficked children, with key informants citing that survivors displayed signs of trauma and underdeveloped social skills. Further, although everyone acknowledged that there are government programs in place and NGOs that serve trafficking survivors, the service needs of trafficked children far exceeded the availability and accessibility of services. Recommendations: The study's results revealed the need for a holistic, multidisciplinary anti-trafficking intervention which includes: 1) prioritizing the arrest, prosecution and conviction of perpetrators of child trafficking into forced labor and the related psycho-social support of trafficked children; and 2) reducing vulnerability through increased access to education and through economic empowerment. The information in this report can help inform strategies for the identification and investigation of cases of child trafficking, including: methods to reach hidden populations and routine monitoring of trafficking hotspots. Once identified, trafficked children must be provided with appropriate services by the Ghanaian government as well as other community and non-governmental stakeholders. Findings demonstrate the need for strong trauma-informed recovery services for survivors and reintegration support. Details: Washington, DC: International Justice Mission, 2016. 98p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 21, 2019 at: https://www.ijm.org/documents/studies/ijm-ghana-report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ghana Keywords: Child Labor Shelf Number: 156561 |