HRRG demands justice for two minors stripped naked and paraded the streets
The Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), a media advocacy cum human rights non-governmental organization has commended the Ghana Police Service for their swift response in apprehending the main suspects who have been alleged of brutalizing two minors on the streets of Akuapem-Adawso in the North Municipality of the Eastern region.
The victims, both 14 years of age were reported to have been publicly and forcibly stripped naked and paraded on the streets over an alleged GHC100 theft and a mobile phone.
The shameful act was captured on a video which went viral showing the hands of the minors tied while being assaulted and paraded naked from the Tinkong stretch of the Koforidua -Mamfe highway to the Adawso township on the market day on October 29, 2021.
The attack triggered public outcry and condemnation including the police who reacted swiftly leading to the subsequent arrest of the prime suspects who are currently in their custody pending further investigations into the matter.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Joseph Wemakor and copied to the press, he outrightly condemns the inhumane act perpetrated on the minors while applauding the efforts of the Ghana Police Service for their quick response in dealing with the matter resulting in immediate arrest of the alleged perpetrators.
It also called on the police to help demonstrate similar commitment it has exuded by expediting actions in probing the matter to ensure justice is served the victims and their families.
HRRG equally says it joins hand with the police service in cautioning the public to refrain from indiscriminately usurping the powers of the proper adjudicative arm of the state in proffering judgment and other punitive processes.
Read the full statement below:
For Immediate Release November 05, 2021
To All Media Houses
Human Rights Reporters Ghana lauds Police Service for swift arrest of perpetrators of assault on two minors at Akuapem-Adawso; demands justice for the victims
The Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) has followed with sorrow the troubling story of two minors who were publicly and forcibly stripped naked and paraded on the streets of Akuapem-Adawso in the North Municipality of the Eastern region over an alleged GHC100 theft and a mobile phone.
HRRG outrightly condemns this barbaric act visited on these teenagers by residents of the said community with the sole aim of robbing them of their dignity which flies in the face of United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 5, which states, 'No one shall be subjected to torture, or to cruel or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.'
The victims, both 14 years of age, according to a video that went viral shows that the hands of the minors were tied while being assaulted and paraded naked from the Tinkong stretch of the Koforidua -Mamfe highway to the Adawso township on the market day on October 29, 2021, as this shameful act is in clear violation on the rights of the child which stipulates that, "A child accused or guilty of breaking the law must be treated with dignity and respect. They have the right to legal assistance and a fair trial that takes account of their age..." (Article 40; UN Convention on the Right the Child).
HRRG hereby commends the Ghana Police Service for their swift intervention which led to the subsequent arrest of the two main suspects alleged to have led the discharge of this inhumane treatment on the minors. We are equally calling on the police service to further demonstrate the commitment exuded and help expedite actions and ensure a swift probe into the matter.
It is our hope that the accused persons are properly arraigned before the law courts to seek justice for the victims and their families, who we also understand have been provided some psychological assistance.
We join the Police force in cautioning the public to refrain from indiscriminately usurping the powers of the proper adjudicative arm of the state in proffering judgment and other punitive processes.
Rights violations especially of the child, have no place in today’s world and the open society Ghana seeks to surge towards and acts of these nature only go put her in bad light as it would appear to seem, it is not doing enough to offer adequate protection for its children.
Thank you.
Signed
Joseph Kobla Wemakor
Executive Director
Tel: 0243676813
HRRG
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