Human Rights and Anti-Corruption (GH0004)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Ghana Action Plan 2013-2014

Action Plan Cycle: 2013

Status:

Institutions

Lead Institution: Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP), Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department (MOJAGD), Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

Support Institution(s): Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII).

Policy Areas

Anti-Corruption and Integrity, Anti-Corruption Institutions, Human Rights, Public Participation

IRM Review

IRM Report: Ghana 2013-2014 End of Term Report, Ghana Progress Report 2013-2014

Early Results: Marginal

Design i

Verifiable: Yes

Relevant to OGP Values: Yes

Ambition (see definition): High

Implementation i

Completion:

Description

Government’s commitment to human rights is already evident in the establishment of the human rights court. The Government of Ghana will substantially strengthen the human rights and anti- corruption regime already in existence by supporting the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to more effectively pursue its human rights and anti-corruption mandates. One sure way of realizing this commitment will be to clarify the mandate of CHRAJ, in order to ensure that the Commission is not flooded with petitions outside its mandate, especially in Ghana’s rural districts.
Government will also support CHRAJ to monitor Government’s international human rights obligations. Currently, decisions of CHRAJ do not carry the weight of a court of justice. Government commits to introduce the necessary legislative instrument that will allow successful petitioners at CHRAJ to register CHRAJ decisions in court to constitute a judgment of a competent court of law.
Additionally, Government will review the salaries and conditions of service of CHRAJ personnel with a view to effecting a significant upgrade, to stem the tide of outflow of legal professionals from the Commission. Actions:
• Conduct a joint Government and relevant anti-corruption and human rights CSOs review of principal impediments to CHRAJ effectiveness
• Present report to Cabinet, through the Attorney-General, for consideration and implementation of recommendations
• Monitor impact of implementation of recommendations by joint Government-CSO committee.
• Monitor implementation of Ghana’s commitment to African Union and UN protocols and instruments against corruption.
• Conduct, by mid 2014, a joint M&E session of all responsible agencies to ensure that CHRAJ mandate has been clarified (CHRAJ monitors Government compliance with international human rights commitments; CHRAJ enjoys substantial upgrade in remuneration and conditions of service; and decisions of CHRAJ are registered to confer status of court judgment