Protest is a Fundamental Human Right not a privilege-Amnesty Ghana

By Rihana Adam

Accra, Nov. 15, GNA – Madam Genevieve Partington, the Country Director of Amnesty International (AI) Ghana has said that the right to protest was a fundamental right guaranteed by human rights charters but not a privilege.

Speaking at the “Protect the Protest: Ghana’s Documentary Film Screening” in Accra, she said the organisation had witnessed several demonstrations where protesters were intimidated and

in democracy, the right to protest was not just a privilege, but a fundamental human right for every citizen.

She said, “we have witness in an environment where voicing decently often leads to intimidation or violence in the country, therefore this documentary aims to spark conversation and mobilize support to protect the essential right of protesters.”

She added that there were several attempts to silence protesters from protesting, “We witness this arbitrary arrest, legal and democratic restrictions in the recent ‘Stop the Galamsey now’ protest last September where about fifty-three persons were arrested.

“We stand with those who have fought and continue to fight for their freedom of expression and to demand better condition of service from our leaders.”

Madam Partington also expressed her profound gratitude to the team who made the documentary possible.

She said, “It is a privilege to welcome you all to the screening of this powerful documentary this is not just the counting of event, but a testament to the carrier of the ordinary Ghanaian who have taken to the street to demand justice, equality and respect for their right.”

“It is an honour to stand here on behalf of AI Ghana and to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who made this documentary possible, to the film makers, researches, activists, and the protests, your commitment and resilience on the obstacles that has emerged in Ghana which threating the right to protest.”

Madam Bashiratu Kamal, Gender, Labor and Safeguarding Specialist said some demonstrators had lost their jobs as a result of demonstration.

She said, “I have been threatened several times and I have to change my children’s schools three times because some people called to tell me that they know my children school and even stand in front of my children school and take picture sent it to me.”

GNA