Month: July 2025

Accra, July 25, 2025 – The heart-wrenching story of Ama, a 13-year-old class 3 pupil from Madina No. 3 School, who was allegedly gang-defiled by over 20 men, has gripped the nation.

As the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) and the Justice Revived Foundation (JRF) continue their relentless pursuit of justice for Ama, her mother, Stella Tetteh, has issued a desperate plea for public assistance to support her struggling family.

According to investigations by HRRG and JRF, Ama’s ordeal began in February 2025, leaving the vulnerable teenager three months pregnant and deeply traumatized.

The chief perpetrator, 45-year-old mason Clement Kwame, alongside a group of accomplices, allegedly subjected Ama to repeated sexual assaults, often in a group setting and without protection.

Despite the case being lodged with the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Madina on July 13, 2025, concerns have arisen over the handling of the investigation, with allegations that Clement Kwame was briefly detained, paid an undisclosed sum, and released without further prosecution.

Stella Tetteh, a 41-year-old jobless mother of four, is battling to provide for her family under dire circumstances.

Her husband, Eric Jonas Ntepreko, Ama’s stepfather, is currently detained for child neglect pending investigations, further compounding the family’s financial and emotional hardship.

“We struggle to even get a meal a day,” Stella tearfully shared in an interview with HRRG and JRF. “I am pleading with Ghanaians to help us survive this nightmare and care for my children.”

Adding to the family’s distress, Ama’s whereabouts remain unclear to her mother. Sources indicate that Ama was placed in a shelter, reportedly through the intervention of Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu, Member of Parliament for Madina, with assistance from the police, but without informing Stella or her family.

Attempts by Stella to contact the MP for information about her daughter’s location have been met with silence, leaving her traumatized and fearing for her child’s well-being.

HRRG and JRF have expressed alarm over this lack of transparency and communication with Ama’s family, questioning the circumstances surrounding the decision.

On July 14, 2025, Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu addressed the Speaker of Parliament, clarifying what he described as misleading media reports about Ama’s case.

He stated that, based on police information, the victim is 14 years old, was pregnant, and had sexual encounters with 18 men who did not act together.

He outlined that two suspects have been detained, and efforts are underway to apprehend others.

Sosu also pledged legal support through his firm, F-X Law and Associates, and coordinated with the Medical Director of Pantang Hospital to provide Ama with urgent medical and psychological care.

He reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for stricter child-protection laws and supporting Ama’s family with medical care, counselling, and legal assistance.

However, HRRG and JRF have voiced frustration over Hon. Sosu’s statement, which failed to acknowledge their pivotal role in uncovering and publicizing the crime.

They also expressed concern over discrepancies in his account such as the victim’s age and the nature of the assaults which they argue rely solely on police reports without independent verification.

The organizations emphasize that their investigations, grounded in Ama’s testimony, confirm she is 13 and was gang-defiled on multiple occasions by over 20 men, often without protection and in a group setting, led by Clement Kwame.

HRRG and JRF are calling for urgent action from the authorities, including:

1. Swift and Transparent Investigations: Expedite the arrest and prosecution of all perpetrators, including Clement Kwame, ensuring justice for Ama.
2. Comprehensive Support for Ama: Provide medical, psychological, and social care to address her trauma and pregnancy.
3. Family Reunification and Communication: Clarify Ama’s whereabouts and involve her mother in decisions regarding her care.
4. Public Support for the Family: Rally Ghanaians to provide resources to help Stella Tetteh feed and care for her children.

The organizations are appealing to the public, NGOs, and philanthropists to come to the aid of Ama’s family. Donations of food, clothing, and financial support can be coordinated through HRRG and JRF to ensure they reach Stella and her children directly.

Ama’s story underscores the urgent need to address sexual and gender-based violence in Ghana.

HRRG and JRF remain steadfast in their commitment to securing justice for Ama and advocating for systemic reforms to protect vulnerable children.

They urge Ghanaians to stand in solidarity with Ama’s family, condemning this heinous crime and supporting their fight for survival and justice.

For those wishing to contribute, please contact HRRG or JRF through their official channels. Together, we can help Ama’s family rebuild and ensure that no child endures such unimaginable suffering again.

Contact Information:
Human Rights Reporters Ghana: (0243676813)
Justice Revived Foundation: (0542082851)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On July 18, 2025, the plush halls of the Marriott Hotel in Accra will echo with voices from across the globe, united by a single purpose: addressing the human rights crisis in North Korea.

Among these voices will be one of Ghana’s most prominent human rights advocates—Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, founder and executive director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG).

It’s a moment that marks not only a personal milestone in Dr. Wemakor’s journey but also a powerful statement about the rising influence of African voices in global human rights conversations.

The International Seminar on Enhancing Human Rights Activities in North Korea, organized by the World Institute of Intercultural Services (WIIS) and supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, seeks to build momentum around international action.

This year, the seminar is taking a unique turn—incorporating African perspectives into a dialogue often dominated by Western and Asian voices.

For Dr. Wemakor, the invitation to deliver a keynote address is more than recognition; it is an opportunity to bridge continents through advocacy.

In a session titled “Promoting International Pressure and Policy Recommendations,” he is expected to outline concrete strategies for bolstering international solidarity—especially from Africa—in confronting North Korea’s entrenched human rights abuses.

Over the years, Dr. Wemakor has earned a reputation for being much more than a human rights defender. He’s a force of nature—a journalist, a mobilizer, and a strategic thinker whose work has impacted communities at every level.

His voice is one that echoes from the streets of Accra to the corridors of the United Nations.

At the heart of his work lies a mission: to empower the voiceless—women, children, girls, and marginalized populations.

Through HRRG, the organization he founded, he has built a formidable coalition of journalists, lawyers, and activists all committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

But Dr. Wemakor’s reach goes far beyond Ghana. His influence stretches across continents. He’s spoken at international platforms like the Pan African Human Rights and Social Justice Conference in Nairobi, the International Seminar on South Korea: COVID-19 and Human Rights Abuses, and the 2020 UN High-Level Political Forum. At each stop, he has urged justice, inclusion, and global solidarity.

In Ghana, he is the convener of the Youth Sub-Platform of the Ghana CSOs Platform on SDGs, a national coalition of over 500 civil society organizations.

As a steering committee member, he’s helped champion youth engagement, promote development inclusion, and deepen awareness of the SDGs across the country.

In early 2025, he was appointed to a Technical Advocacy Committee tasked with supporting Ghana’s Non-Profit Organization (NPO) Bill—a legislative effort born out of extensive CSO consultations aimed at strengthening the role of civil society in national development. His selection speaks volumes of the trust placed in his leadership.

Dr. Wemakor’s global impact took a dramatic turn in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when HRRG spearheaded a media campaign exposing human rights violations in South Korea.

The campaign highlighted more than 5,500 abuses, including the arrest of Mr. Lee Man-hee, founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and the persecution of over 220,000 church members.

This powerful initiative mobilized international bodies—including the UN and human rights watchdogs—and ultimately played a key role in securing Mr. Lee’s release.

This is not the only time Dr. Wemakor has stood at the intersection of justice and global activism.

His efforts have been internationally recognized:

• In 2023, he was named an Africa Peace Advocate.
• In 2024, he was listed among Ghana’s 100 Most Impactful Changemakers.
• He’s a winner of the prestigious 5th UN Global Entreps Award.
• A finalist for the African Human Rights Defenders Shield Award
• And recipient of an Honorary Award for Peace, Security, and Education (2021).
• His organization emerged finalist for the Africans Rising Activism Award (Movement of the Year Category 2020)

As a journalist, he’s earned accolades like the National Migration Media Award (2018) and the GIJ Most Influential Student Media Personnel Award (2016). He was also celebrated during the Ghana Institute of Journalism’s 60th Anniversary for his outstanding SDG reporting.

In 2024, his commitment to human dignity was honored with a doctorate in executive leadership in humanity from the International Kingdom University in Florida, along with a Global Doctoral Humanitarian and Ministerial Excellence Award.

He is also a fellow of WITNESS’s Fortifying the Truth Cohort and a participant in the Bloomberg Media Initiative’s Africa Financial Journalism Program.

Now, as he prepares to take the stage in Accra, Dr. Wemakor joins an esteemed lineup of global experts, including Professor Park Hung Kook, CEO of World Institute of Intercultural Services (WIIS), a former UN ambassador of South Korea,

Mr. Ju, Kwon Neung, Chairperson, TIMJ, and Ms. Kim Bomin, North Korean defector. Together, they will contribute to a seminar designed to foster international collaboration, spark dialogue, and forge a path toward justice for the oppressed.

Dr. Wemakor’s message promises to be powerful, grounded in lived experiences and global activism.

As he connects African resilience with international policy, his keynote will likely leave an indelible mark—not just on the audience in Accra, but on human rights discourse worldwide.

His story is a reminder: change begins when one voice dares to speak—and others dare to listen.