A legal practitioner and President of African Heights Foundation—an NGO, Dennis Armah, has called on the media, particularly court reporters to focus on cases at the lower courts. He said cases at the lower courts have human right implications and the media ought to pay more attention to them.
Mr. Armah also observed that cases like robbery, stealing, unlawful entry, defilement, possessing narcotic drugs, causing harm, assault, fraud and indecent assault, directly relate to rights of accused persons.
He stated that the rights of accused persons arraigned at the Lower Courts, are mostly not respected, therefore the media must ensure the rights of these persons.
The two-day programme was an Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), sponsored training programme organised by African Heights Foundation.
Participants were taken through topics such as ‘Understanding the Human Rights Concept and the Underlying Principles, Understanding the Ghanaian Criminal Justice System, and the Role of the Media in Social Justice.’
Other topics were ‘Criminal Justice System from the Perspective of the Police, The State of Ghana’s Prisons’ and Other Related Matters and Assessment of the Criminal Justice System and Suggestions for Reforms.’
The President of African Heights Foundation, Dennis Armah noted that the lack of concentration on the lower courts by journalists compounds the issue of human rights even more.
He urged the media not to focus mainly on cases at the High Courts which he stated, are mostly political and constitutional in nature.
The training was climaxed with a familiarisation visit to the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons.
STORY BY: NAOMI KOMEH – GBC’s RADIO GHANA.
