By Seth Ayiah
A sensitisation exercise for the homeless, poor, vulnerable, hawkers, Head Porters, Market Women and Assembly Members has revealed a lack of knowledge of Assembly bye-laws.
As a result, they easily break the laws and go to jail after they are unable to pay the fines imposed on them by the Courts.
Announcing the key findings of the sensitisation and monitoring in Accra, the Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation, CCF an NGO Ibrahim Oppon Kwarteng said the project which was carried out in 13 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in Greater Accra, Central and Ashanti Regions, sought to empower the vagrants to know claim and exercise their rights and responsibilities.
The decriminalizing vagrancy laws and advocacy project covered 1,200 people and stakeholders in three project regions. Mr. Oppong Kwarteng, said the project identified lack of access to legal support, abuse of the rights of vagrants and lack of social amenities among others.
He reiterated the call for the passage of the Non-Custodial Sentencing Bill into Law.
Mr. Oppong Kwarteng called on the media to show interest in issues affecting vagrants and educate them on the bye-laws of the Assemblies.
