Overview of Human Rights in Ghana

Ghana is a constitutional democracy. The government’s human rights record has improved over the years, but there are still some problem areas that need to be addressed.

Use of excessive force by security agencies has led to cases of severe injuries and even deaths in recent years. There are also reports that the police regularly beat suspects while in custody to force confessions, even if they -- the suspects -- are known to be innocent.

Prison conditions are often inhumane and life-threatening. Prolonged pre-trial detention, especially for political prisoners, is common as well.

Journalists who try to report stories containing views contrary to those of the government sometimes face arrest, detention, and in some cases, even threats of violence and death. Human rights activists face the same treatment.

 There are restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, speech and press.

Other concerns include widespread corruption and a trend toward vigilante justice.

Societal discrimination and violence against disabled persons, homosexuals, people with HIV/AIDS, and ethnic minorities have been noted.

Child labor and trafficking of children are concerns as well.

During the past year, the government took steps to improve its human rights record in terms of passing laws and legislation, especially in the area of human trafficking, but implementation of these laws is still lagging behind.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

136th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.