Act decisively on Bawku conflict to save lives - Amnesty International to govt

Amnesty International (AI) Ghana, has called on the government to act more decisively on the Bawku conflict to save lives and property.

It urged the government to deploy transparent mediation efforts, rebuild trust among the factions and protect civilians from further harm.

The Board Chairman of AI Ghana, Francis Nyantakyi, made the call at the opening ceremony of the organisation’s Annual General meeting at Fiapre, near Sunyani, in the Bono Region, on the theme: "Resilience in a restricted civil space."

The meeting brought together international delegates from Germany, Nigeria, Kenya, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire, as well as representatives from government, civil society partners, the media and human rights and justice advocates.

Bawku lives matter

Mr Nyantakyi said: "The lives of Ghanaians in Bawku are just as precious as those in any other part of the country."

The meeting

He said the protracted violence in Bawku continue unabated, maiming and claiming more lives, displacement of families and loss of properties, adding that "government’s silence and indecisiveness on this matter speaks louder than any statement".

Galamsey

Mr Nyantakyi also mentioned illegal mining, also known as "galamsey," as a an area that needed to be tackled.

He described the menace as an urgent human rights issue, adding that toxic rivers, poisoned food chains, destroyed farmlands and collapsing health systems in affected communities exposed a failure of leadership and enforcement.

Mr Nyantakyi said that individuals such as journalists, traditional leaders and youth activists who dared to speak against the menace were faced with lawsuits, police harassment or violent attacks.

He urged the government to go beyond rhetoric and demonstrate political will by prosecuting both financiers and perpetrators in galamsey.

The chairman also called on the government to ensure that communities affected by environmental degradation were compensated and supported to rebuild.

"Independent institutions such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the National Media Commission and the Judiciary must be shielded from political interference," he added.

Right violations

An investigative journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor, said every illegal mining operation that destroyed forests, polluted rivers and displaced communities was an affront to human rights.

He explained that the scourge of galamsey triggered a national outcry not only for its ecological devastation but also for the human rights violations.

Mr Donkor said the menace bred forced evictions, child labour, abuse of power and suppression of dissent.

He said activities of illegal miners were not only ravaging Ghana's forests and water bodies but were also depriving communities of access to clean water, arable land and healthy living conditions, which were basic human rights.

Mr Donkor also said rivers once used for fishing, drinking and farming were now poisoned by mercury and cyanide.

Writer's email: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh