Ghana has come under scrutiny in the latest 2024 Human Rights Report released by the United States, which accuses the country of a “recurring disregard” for constitutional protections. Although the report noted no dramatic shift from previous years, it raised pressing concerns about arbitrary arrests, media restrictions, and a lack of accountability for abusive officials.
The report described a troubling pattern in which powerful individuals act with impunity while the legal system often fails to protect citizens.
“The recurring disregard for constitutional protections raises questions about Ghana’s democratic health,” the report stated.
Media Under Threat
The safety of journalists emerged as one of the top concerns. The report cited credible cases of violence and harassment that have pushed some reporters into self-censorship.
One example was the January 27 assault on Citi FM/TV journalist Mohammed Alabira during coverage of a political primary in Yendi. He was attacked by former MP Farouk Aliu Mahama and his supporters as violence broke out at the venue.
Despite strong condemnation from the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), which demanded Mahama’s arrest, the report noted that no charges were brought against him by the end of 2024. According to the US, this failure to hold a high-profile figure accountable reflects a wider culture of impunity.
Smaller and politically aligned media outlets, it added, remain especially vulnerable to threats, intimidation, and expensive legal battles.
Arbitrary Arrests and Lengthy Detentions
Although Ghana’s constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, the report found the practice widespread. Authorities often detain individuals beyond the 48-hour legal limit without warrants or charges, with some pretrial detainees spending years in custody—sometimes longer than the maximum sentence for their alleged crime.
The report highlighted one case involving an individual accused of “unnatural carnal knowledge” who was detained far beyond the legal limit, only for the case to be dropped due to lack of evidence.
Factors such as lost files, police inaction, and limited access to affordable legal counsel were cited as major contributors to these prolonged detentions.
Labour Rights Under Pressure
Beyond justice and media freedoms, the report criticized Ghana’s labour sector, where many protections exist on paper but lack enforcement.
Unions, though legally recognized, face steep registration and renewal fees. The government also restricts the right to strike by broadly categorizing many jobs as “essential services,” far exceeding international labour standards.
The minimum wage of 18.15 cedis ($1.27) is frequently ignored in both formal and informal sectors, while occupational safety violations remain rampant—especially in mining, where corruption and weak enforcement allow illegal practices to thrive.
The labour inspectorate, the report observed, is undertrained, understaffed, and largely powerless to sanction offenders.
