Ghana has made progress on human rights under UN UPR but gaps remain – Osei Owusu
The Executive Director of the POS Foundation, Mr. Jonathan Osei Owusu, has said Ghana’s participation in the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism has contributed to important changes in the country’s human rights and justice systems, although significant commitments remain outstanding. Speaking in an interview with journalists, he said Ghana’s experience…
Ghana's progress on human rights under the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) has led to notable changes in the country's justice systems, according to Jonathan Osei Owusu, Executive Director of the POS Foundation. However, significant commitments remain outstanding. The UPR recommendation for community sentencing, which Ghana accepted, has been translated into the passage of the Community Service Bill in 2026, awaiting presidential assent.
This reform has been instrumental in addressing prison overcrowding. Osei Owusu emphasized the critical role of Ghanaian civil society, particularly the POS Foundation, in turning UPR recommendations into legislation. The Foundation's engagement with various stakeholders, including government institutions and civil society, has been vital in this process.
The Justice for All Programme, a collaborative initiative involving multiple state institutions and civil society, has also contributed to decongestion in prisons. Despite these advancements, the Property Rights of Spouses Bill, which was supported by Ghana in response to UPR recommendations in 2012 and 2017, remains outstanding.
This bill is crucial as it aligns with Article 22(2) of Ghana's 1992 Constitution. The persistent gap between international commitments and domestic implementation underscores the challenges in translating UPR recommendations into tangible reforms.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
