Govt launches national plan to safeguard business-related human rights
A national action plan that seeks to enhance access to effective remedies for victims of business-related human rights abuses and violations has been launched in Accra.
Developed by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Office Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice and its partners, and the Ghana National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR), the five-year plan is to ensure that the state protects human rights while businesses respect these rights.
It is also aimed at promoting human rights compliance and accountability by business actors, while ensuring the respect of vulnerable and marginalised individual groups in business operations.
Launch
The document was launched in Accra last Friday, making Ghana the fifth country in Africa, after Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Liberia, to have its action plan completed for implementation.
Launching the document, a Chief State Attorney, Dr Sylvia Adusu, who spoke on behalf of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, said the state was committed to business and human rights and the same has been captured in the 1992 Constitution.
"The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice will play their role in ensuring that the NAP-BHR is adopted and the objectives stated therein are achieved,” she said.
She commended all partners who supported the NAP-BHR project and appealed to them to assist with its implementation.
Milestone
The CHRAJ Commissioner, Dr Joseph Whittal, said the document, though a significant milestone, was only a step towards ensuring that the state protected human rights, businesses respected human rights and ensured access to effective remedy when violations occur.
CHRAJ, he said, had been given the mandate under the NAP to coordinate and monitor compliance across the country.
"I wish to use this medium to call on all our partners, both local and international, to support the Commission in setting up a fully equipped and functional NAP Implementation Secretariat.
"We are committed to the implementation of the NAP and the Commission will take all the necessary steps to support the government in ensuring that all recommendations contained in the NAP are achieved,” Dr Whittal said.
For his part, the Country Director of Oxfam, Mohammed-Anwar Sadat Adam, said the launch was a bold commitment to the future where economic development aligned with respect for human dignity, social justice and environmental sustainability.
He added that with the advent of various government flagship programmes and initiatives, and growing integration into a regional trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area, it was impoartant to ensure that business growth did not come at the cost of human rights violations.