Wednesday, December 31, 2008

IDEG

Civil society organisations are urging all Ghanaians to repeat all the right actions taken prior to the December 7, 2008 election that resulted in a successful exercise on the December 28, 2008 presidential run-off.
They said the December 7 elections passed off successfully because of certain actions and right behaviour put up by Ghanaians and key partners in the electoral process, that minimised the potential of having a failed exercise.
They said these same actions and behaviours needed to be repeated for the December 28, 2008, presidential run-off for Ghanaians to show once again their maturity in the process
These were some of the issues raised at a press conference organised by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), the Civic Initiative Forum, and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at the launch of a report on the lessons of the December 7, 2008 elections and how they could be used for another successful run-of.
The CIF is a coalition of civil society organisations in the country committed to ensuring a credible and fair election this year, and IDEG is a policy research and advocacy organisation focusing on democratic consolidation and good governance in the country and the host of the CFI.
Dr Emmanuel Akwetey who read the report highlighted some of the relevant lessons of the December 7 elections that needed to be repeated for a successful run-off.
Strict compliance with the laid down procedures for voting, counting, tabulation of the results, the open and transparent compliance with and the enforcement of procedures, as well as voter awareness of the basic rules elections and their ability to strictly observe them, were all noted as essential and crucial.
He also mentioned the fact that a high level of civic responsibility both on the part of domestic observers and all voters was vital.
He said political parties and the media were most often not credible sources of election, requiring all to listen to the information provided by them critically, while treating them as inconclusive pieces of information that needed to be verified with the certified results of the EC.
He added that the credibility of the EC and the public confidence in its certified results depended heavily on transparency and professionalism with which its officials, particularly those at the highest levels conducted themselves in the management of the elections.
Dr Akwetey said the disposition of candidates to resort to the due process, that is, the courts for the peaceful adjudication of disputes, and the fair, expeditions and fair dispensation of justice by principled judges would all discourage the use of violence as an option to resolving disputes.
The acceptance of the results by the two political candidates was also crucial to peace and stability, while the zero tolerance of violence and the firm, professional and impartial enforcement of law by the security agencies would discourage anyone from taking the law into their own hands.
“For the second round of the December 28, 2008 presidential elections to be as successful as the December 7 elections, all the above lessons together with others should be effectively applied by all stakeholders, before, during and after the elections,” the report said.
He reminded leaders of the two political parties that a key principle of democracy was that whose who contested elections had to respect the legitimate decisions of the people expressed through credible ballot and transparent voting results processing and declaration.
In all the report said December 7 election was successful, however, campaigning for the presidential run-off had begun with some rancour, personality attacks and nasty accusations that needed to be stopped as they could foreshadow tension on the day of voting.
The report congratulated all stakeholders for a job well done on December 7, by asked for a reinforcement of all the positive initiatives that ensured success in the elections.
Present at the press conference were Dr Emmanuel Bombande the Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peace Building, Ms Florence Denise, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), representatives from the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) and several other members of the CFI.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Violence

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
Feature: Vida-Pearl Atakpa

THE Criminalization of domestic violence under the Criminal Code 1960 (Act 29) criminalizes assault and battery, incest, rape and defilement of a child, of less than sixteen years (having sex with a woman against her will, using violence or threatening behaviour.)

Domestic Violence is any forceful or serious offensive act that inflicts pain on the woman physically, psychologically and emotionally. It is also a serious evil that tarnishes the image of women in Ghana.

The code further provides protection against demeaning cultural practices such as widowhood rites, which is the type of hurtful rites performed on women especially who have lost their husbands which sometimes cause physical or mental problem.

Early customary servitude (Trokosi) which involves sending young virgin girls to the shrines to atone for crimes or sins committed by their relatives and female genital mutilation, which the act also criminalizes as using very sharp object to cut the cervix of the vagina to prevent the girl from having too much feelings for sex. Early marriage is however another discriminatory act against women in Ghana. It involves forcefully marrying a girl to a man at her early stage, due to the help the man has offered to her parents. This is mostly practiced in the northern part of Ghana.

Domestic violence refers to physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological abuse between marital partners, former partners and other adults who are, or have been in close relationship. Most experts distinguish domestic violence form the mistreatment of the elderly or children. Both men and women may act violently towards each other. But women are more likely than men to be injured or murdered by their partners.

Domestic violence leaves long-lasting effects on it victims and their families. Victims may abuse alcohol or drugs and experience depression, eating disorders, or other types of psychological distress.

There is no single reason for domestic violence. Many offenders have a history of alcohol or drug abuse. Some experience stress caused by unemployment, sexual difficulties, and low job satisfaction. The most abusive offenders tend to have severe emotional problems. Numerous offenders were abused as children.

It has been observed that while a number of perpetrators of such violent acts virtually escape, with varying but lesser degrees of requisite sanction, custodial sentences following protracted court processes leave victims with adequate remedies.

Although Ghana has signed, ratified and adopted several international documents and conventions on domestic violence, such as the Convention on the Elimination of all forms Violence against Women, until recently domestic violence has been given little practical or real legislative attention.

Violence within the domestic situation takes many forms. The regime of customary law appears to permit the right of chastisement for husbands in some ethnic groups. It has led to a prevalence of wife beating in some communities. In some home setting; house helps, the aged, sick and physically challenged members in a family may be abused. A recent national study on violence revealed that one out of three women interviewed had been beaten, slapped and physically punished by a recent partner.

The Domestic Violence Act is to provide victims of domestic violence with a broader set of remedies in the form of protection orders. Legislation on domestic violence will uphold provisions in the constitution on respect for human dignity in Article 15 amongst other human rights provisions. It will also accord with the international commitment and obligations of the Republic under the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) ratified by Ghana in 1986.

The legislation seeks to bring an end to domestic violence in Ghana, targeting in particular the abusive practice of “wife beaters” and men who habitually perpetrate violence against their partners.

A report by the joint committee pointed out that domestic violence and sexual abuse in Ghana constitute a serious social evil which continues to undermine and threaten harmony in the family as a unit of society, with the potential to erode gains made by the country.

The president assenting the Bill into an Act therefore provides the victims of domestic violence with a broader set of remedies, including specific protection orders that will promote human dignity and ensure prompt, cost effective and less traumatic means of redress.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Mental Health

Story: Vida Pearl Atakpa

THE Accra Psychiatric Hospital recorded a total number of 30,904 representing 12.4% during the third quarter of 2008 as against 26,261 patients who were admitted in 2007.
Speaking at the end of year award ceremony and X’mas party for patients and staff of the Hospital on Thursday by Dr. Akwasi Osei, Medical Director of the Hospital.
According to him, the increase was due to cases of schizophrenia, depression, mania and substance abuse out of these new cases indicated a data of 2,066 males against 1,854 females.
He expressed regret about the rate at which the youth continue to indulge in alcohol and drug abuse against all advice which are the major causes of mental health in the country.
Dr. Osei noted some of the challenges as inadequate human resources and financial problems which compelled them to embarked on mass repatriation of 90 patients to their respective homes.
He noted however that, the hospital has been able to operationalise laboratory through donor agencies like Friends of the Hospital and the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Osei appealed to government to pass the Mental Health Bill in order to eschew maltreatment of some healers at prayer camps.
He adviced the public especially the youth to stay away from drugs and alcohol to curb mental illness in the country.
As part of the ceremony, a dancing competition among the inmates of the hospital was organized and winners were given awards.
Special awards were given to deserving workers of the hospital for their hard work and dedication to the inmates.
Dr. Akwasi Osei commended Ghanaians for their comportment during the just ended elections and appealed to them to do same in the run off.