LAWA provides women with access to Constitution

Throughout the African continent women play vital roles in improving the lives of their families. But the story of majority of these women is often unpleasant as they lack access to their fundamental human rights.But these are often overlooked or not recognized at all by society.Though their rights to equality, property, protection and freedom of association among others are recognized by the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, and other international or regional treaties, they do not experience the practical benefits of these rights due to lack of recognition and ignorance. There is a clear gap between the theory and practice of these rights. Cultural, social, economic and political realities co-exist with formal rights and obstruct women from benefiting from their rights. It is therefore necessary for women to know their rights, since the law supersedes customary provisions. Law and Advocacy for Women in Africa (LAWA) Ghana Alumnae Incorporated, a non-governmental organisation comprising a group of women lawyers, continues to undertake certain legislative advocacy projects to promote human rights, particularly women’s economic and social rights in Ghana. The latest of such projects by LAWA-Ghana is ensuring that awareness on the Constitutional Rights of Ghanaian citizens, especially that of women and children is created. LAWA in collaboration with the Georgetown University Law Centre in the United States of America has published a constitutional booklet, dubbed, “Condensed Ghana Constitution” with a focus on the Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms, with funding from the United States Information Service as part of its advocacy initiatives on human rights. The Chairperson of LAWA – Ghana, Sheila Menkah-Premo noted that majority of the citizenry are ignorant about their basic human rights. “Women particularly are affected by lack of access to their fundamental human rights and are subjected to certain customary practices which dehumanize them.” Awareness of fundamental human rights she explained is a first step to make people accountable for their actions and inactions. According to Mrs. Menkah-Premo LAWA would source additional funds to translate their work in five Ghanaian local languages. Included in the twenty-six chapters of the Condensed Ghana Constitution are the Laws of Ghana, Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms, Freedom and Independence of the Media and Decentralization and Local Government among others. The Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE) Mrs. Doris Acheampong noted that looking at Ghana’s checkered history; the constitution has become central so far as democracy is concerned. “Let me commend you for your collaborative initiative in complimenting the NCCE with the message of the constitution which is key to ensuring the participation of the citizenry in national governance.” Mrs. Bernice Sam, a member of LAWA – Ghana regretted that the citizenry of Ghana is familiar with several international conventions, but often times lost in terms of the content of the country’s constitution, which she said is not different from those conventions. She called on all well meaning Ghanaians, especially women to make the study of the constitution part of their daily lives to increase their participation in governance and influence people at the community, national and international levels.