Human Rights Reporters Joseph Wemakor – Page 2 – Human Rights Reporters Ghana (NGO)

June 27, 2022June 27, 2022

Make public sanctions for Annor Adjaye teachers who mercilessly flogged students -HRRG

The Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) and the Action by Christians Against Torture (ACAT) Ghana in a joint statement released on Sunday, June 26, have unequivocally demanded justice for the students of the Annor Adjaye SHS located at Ezilibo in Jomoro district of the Western Region of Ghana who were mercilessly flogged by their teachers for getting late for church service on Mothers Day.

The Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) received a distress message showing severe body harm inflicted on students by teachers of Annor Adjaye Senior High School, a public SHS located in the Jomoro Municipality, located in the Southwestern part of the Western Region of Ghana.

The current call by HRRG and ACAT Ghana is part of efforts to commemorate this year’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and equally seek justice for the 19 final-year-students of Annor Adjaye SHS who were mercilessly flogged by their teachers leaving visible marks and inflicted cane wounds on their bodies.

The HRRG together with ACAT Ghana are appealing to the authorities to be quick in arresting culprits of torture on any Ghanaian irrespective of his or her affiliation.

In an interview on Angel TV and FM, today, June 27 2022, the Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana who doubles as the Co-convenor of the CSOs Platform on SDGs Youth sub-platform in Ghana, Mr. Joseph Wemakor called for justice for students who were tortured in the name of punishment on Mother’s Day.

He indicated that for nearly two months after the sad incident happened, nothing seems to have been done about the issue.

He said the students did not deserve the kind of treatment meted out to them by their teachers and that amounts to torture irrespective of whether it inflicts pain or not.

“The magnitude of punishment was sad. Brute canning is common in the school, according to the students.” Mr. Wemakor indicated.

This particular incident blew out of proportion and led to the video that proved the occurrence of the brute canning.

The Western Regional Director of Education, Madam Felician Okai while reacting to the incident about a month ago promised the teachers who inflicted the cane wounds on the students will be punished.

Mr. Wemakor wanted to know what had happened and furthered that nothing has actually been done and that the HRRG expects the GES to make public actions taken as far as the finality of the matter was concerned.

He disclosed that some teachers of the school are calling the efforts of the HRRG a bluff. According to him, there seems to be a deliberate attempt to shield the teachers.

The Western Regional Director of Education, Madam Felician Okai was quizzed during the interview through a phone call. According to her, they completed investigations and sent the report to Accra.

“There were just some bruises suffered by the students who were treated and released and teachers were demoted including the entertainment teacher”.

“Sometimes we condemn things that we are not part of, when students were stoning teachers they knew it was against the rules, so they used the cane, but the teachers were made to know the action was wrong due to the GES policy on corporal punishment”.

She added that the teachers were relieved of their position as first-time offenders.

This action according to the account she gave led to another problem as the teachers were not ready to perform their legal obligations, they were not ready to lead the students, discipline, or any other duties.

However, she went to the school to discuss the issue to ensure students are not left on their own.

The teachers according to her report felt the actions taken such as demotion were not fair.

She asserted that every institution has its own codes and sanctions. When people behave, if people behave as though they know more than the institution …”

However, the panel did not agree with her viewpoint that the injury suffered by the students were mere bruises and that some people are behaving as though they know better than the institution.

Mr. Wemakor said the posture of the GES on the matter was disturbing and the fact that the issue has attracted both national and international attention. “State institutions are failing us and making our work very difficult, The HRRG boss stated.

The Angel TV host added that the GES should have come out with a press release to outline their findings and the actions taken to keep stakeholders updated on the development since the matter is of public interest.

Source: Ghana Education News

June 3, 2022June 3, 2022

Wa flogging: Perpetrators should be made to face full rigours of the law-HRRG

The Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), a vibrant media advocacy cum human rights non-governmental organization has charged the Ghana Police Service to endeavour and ensure that those miscreants committed the atrocious act by flogging the two lovers in Wa are meant to face the full rigours of the law at all cost.

This follows media reports confirming severe severely flogging of two lovers by some irate youth at the forecourt of Wa Naa’s palace in Wa in the Upper West Region after their sex tape was leaked on social media.

The heart-breaking news has since received an outburst of public outcry and wide condemnation with multitudes calling justice to be served the victims and the perpetrators brought to book.

The Human Rights Reporters Ghana is the latest to add its voice to calls for the perpetrators to be dealt with according to law to serve as deterrent to others while justice is served to the victims to ensure peace prevails.

In a statement dated June 3 signed by its Executive Director, Joseph Wemakor and copied to the press, the group said, “We applaud the Ghana Police Service in their swift response in effecting some arrests and hope the perpetrators are made to face the full rigors of the law, as a testament to the fact that Ghana is governed by the rule of law where no custom, by-law or religious rule supersedes that of the state”.

Read the full statement below:

November 24, 2021November 24, 2021

COCJASAARC engages National Road Safety Authority on road crashes

A group calling itself the Coalition of Concerned Journalists and Social Activists (COCJASAARC) on Monday December 22, 2021 paid a courtesy call on the National Road Safety Authority to brief them on their activities and how both organizations can collaborate effectively to help reduce road crashes in the country.

The group led by a seven-member delegation comprising its executives were given a rousing welcome by a waiting team of top officials at the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) upon a visit to their office located at Ridge in Accra.

Mr. Joseph Wemakor, the Co-convener of COCJASAARC who briefed the gathering first introduced the group and further proceeded to outline its activities in detail to the officials of the NRSA.

He observed that the group is on the mission to embark on a campaign with the aim of raising public awareness on road safety in a bid to help lessen the incidence of road crashes including the fatalities, injuries and other challenges that comes with it to the barest minimum.

He added that the group, having been alarmed by the outcome of events in the wake of numerous road crashes which has claimed several lives in recent times believes the government is handicapped in dealing with the situation hence the need to come on board with the National Road Safety Authority and strongly back its efforts in achieving results.

Mr. Wemakor himself who had been a victim of a gory road accident which he narrowly escaped by the grace of God this year, recounting his traumatic experience remarked that: “I derive my passion to lead this campaign to a successful end on the basis that I myself have been a victim and equally shared in the plight of all Ghanaians who happened to be victims as well”.

The Director of Planning and Programs at the National Road Safety Authority, Ing. David Osafo Adonteng who in turn addressed the COCJASAARC membership on behalf of his team commended the group’s effort to support its outfit in a bid to realize its objectives.

According to him, it was a great surprise for him to see a group of young journalists and social activists coming together for the first time with so much verve to champion a cause which others have deserted due to failure while in the process of delivery.

He equally used the occasion to announce its outfit’s newly launched road safety campaign dubbed: “Stay Alive” to the group, stressing, “that’s what we’re going to go with for the next three (3) years”.

While touting the project as one which is founded on the National Framework, he quickly urges the Coalition to support it and ensure their upcoming campaign equally fits into it, insisting that, “every campaign from anywhere would have to be built into it”.

“So we are not going to allow any campaign to run parallel without falling into the framework”, he hinted, adding: “Because we need to regulate what everybody does”.

Touching on the dos’ and don’ts of a successful road safety campaign, Mr. Adonteng recounted an instance where the Authority had expressed disgust about the activities of some campaigners who engaged the public with the wrong information.

“There were times, anywhere you get to you’ll hear somebody saying I am doing a road safety campaign and we didn’t know them. Some were using all sorts of words”, for example: If you speed or overspeed, you’re a fool”.

In his estimation, the content of their message was in a complete bad taste for public consumption and warned the group against dissemination of such ‘unsavory messages’ to the public particularly to motorists and road users.

For her part, Head of Corporate Affairs of the National Road Safety Authority, Pearl Adusu encouraged members of the Coalition to exude confidence in the face of any challenges that may arise during the course of their campaign period and be highly committed to task towards realization of desired objectives.

Coalition of Concerned Journalists and Social Activists (COCJASAARC) as the name implies is a network of over 60 media and civil society organizations made up of journalists and social activists who are committed to ensuring safety on our roads.

The group as part of measures to ensure road crashes are significantly reduced if not eliminated is bent on engaging the Ghanaian populace especially motorists and road users on the need to strictly adhere to road safety regulations in order to save lives

The campaign dubbed: ‘Stop road crashes, save lives’ is aimed at raising awareness on road safety, and instilling a culture of discipline among road users before, during and after the yuletide season in an attempt to lessen incidence of road traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries on our roads so as to remain safe.

It would witness the campaigners vigorously engage road users and the general public at major lorry stations/parks, market places and religious settings located within three regions; namely the Greater Accra, Central Ashanti and the Northern Regions of Ghana where they would be vigorously sensitized and presented with educational materials on road safety regulations to help create deeper education and awareness on road safety which would yield a positive result.

“As media practitioners, our agenda setting role is key in determining the success of this project to a large extent coupled with the aggressive utilisation of social media as a tool to facilitate our campaign messages to reach out to our widest audiences as possible with the good news”, the group’s Convener Samuel Adobah has said.

Source:COCJASAARC

November 17, 2021November 17, 2021

Joseph Wemakor honored for his efforts in promoting peace, security, education in Africa

Celebrated journalist and a staunch human rights activist, Joseph Wemakor has been conferred on the covetous Honorary Award for Peace, Security & Education of the Year at the Maiden Edition of the Africa Early Childhood Education (AECEA) 2021 which came off on Saturday November 13, 2021 at the plush CIBT auditorium near Adabraka in Accra on Saturday November 13, 2021.

The AECEA 2021 is an initiative of the Transformational Empowerment and Rural Integration Africa Foundation (TERIA), an NGO with support of hosts of partners including the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Alliance and the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection among others which seeks to recognize, reward and motivate outstanding preschool teachers, institutions including some notable personalities whose tenacity, hard work and commitment to work have significantly contributed to shaping the early childhood education sector in Ghana.

Joseph Wemakor who doubles as a peace ambassador, a national SDGs champion (Co-convener of Youth Platform and the SDG 3 of the Ghana CSOs Platform on SDGs), youth leader and a trained climate change proponent has been honored for his efforts which contributed immensely towards promotion of peace, security and education in Africa.

“This citation is in honour of Joseph Kobla Wemakor, Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) for your outstanding efforts which significantly contributed towards ensuring Peace and Security prevail among the Youth including the development of the Early Childhood Education Sector in Ghana.

It is with the utmost privilege that TERIA Foundation, organizers of the Africa Early Childhood Education Awards confers on you this honorary citation to motivate, inspire and urge you on to remain steadfast in your good deeds in order to become an agent of change and a beacon to many generations yet unborn, the citation complementing his honour reads”.

Mr Wemakor, in line with his passion as a human rights activist founded the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), a non-governmental organization which is dedicated to protecting and ending human rights abuses in Ghana and beyond. HRRG brings together journalists, news editors, human rights activists, advocates, defenders and lawyers together to advance the rights of women, girls, children, young people with disabilities and other minority groups.

In 2019, he led the HRRG to launch a nationwide sensitization campaign on Kidnapping, Teenage Pregnancy and Tramadol Abuse (KTT Project) as a response to the increasing incidents of kidnappings in Ghana.

The KTT campaign focused on addressing the issues of kidnapping, teenage pregnancy and drug abuse but equally set about creating a deeper education on human rights to bring about a cultural change.

Since the roll out of the program in July 2019, the campaign team has managed to reach over 60,000 beneficiaries particularly school children, parents and youth groups in the communities and religious settings within three regions of Ghana.

The positive feedback received from some beneficiaries a year after staging the campaign demonstrated the success of the initiative in saving lives and contributing significantly towards the advancement of the SDGs.

The gesture has won many hearts and attracted commendations towards the HRRG and its amazing team of volunteers both in and outside the borders of Ghana.

It equally paved the way for the HRRG to be nominated among ten (10) organizations across Africa who emerged as finalists for the 2020 Africans Rising Activism Award under the Movement of the Year category. Amazingly, the HRRG was the only activist group from Ghana to be chosen for this prestigious award.

Mr. Wemakor has been recognized on several platforms for his activism roles which endeared many hearts both at the local and the International level. In October 2020, he was featured in the ‘Business Woman Magazine’, a prestigious Ukrainian based glossy magazine which profiles influential men and women at the global level who have excelled in their various fields of endeavors including social issues, business, politics, governance, critical human rights issues and diplomacy.

As a celebrated journalist, he has picked up multiple journalism awards for his dexterity and captivating news reporting with much focus on critical issues which always catch the attention of policy makers. This include the enviable ‘Campus Clique Awards 2016’ of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (maiden edition), the Migration Media Awards 2018 (Winner) as well as the recipient of the “GIJ 60th Anniversary Media Contest” for producing outstanding print report which sheds light on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Joseph Wemakor is equally the National Focal Person of the taskforce for the African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable (ANYL4PSD) in Ghana as well as the newly elected 2nd Deputy Director of Communication for the Bureau of African Peace (BAP), a regional non-profit organization committed to promotion of United Nations Peace Ideals.

The colorful ceremony which came under the theme: “Childcare & Security During & Post Covid-19 Era” also witnessed some excellent, hardworking, committed and deserving preschool teachers, institutions and notable personalities recognized for their immense contributions which brought about the desired change in the early childhood education sector across Africa.

Speaking at the event, Mad. Joyce Larnyoh, the Chair of the CSOs Platform on SDG 4 admonished the early childhood workers to be guided by the strategy of the 8 guidelines which underpin good interaction captured under emotional and comprehensive development of children in discharge of their duties at all times.

While congratulating the winners for their efforts, she equally appealed to the preschool teachers to always endeavour to prioritize the needs of kids and be able to deal with their emotional faculty while sticking to the regulative components always to avoid causing them any discomfort.

Some other winners under various categories include Emammuella Ntow, the Educator of the year (female category), Derrick Ofori the Educator of the year (male category), Esther Delali Gbodui (Assistant of the year), Romay Christian Montessori (Early childhood centre of the year), Dorcas Daisy Doku (school head of the year), Charles Sam Crabb (personality of the year and the Great Mission International (NGO of the year).

The event was graced by hosts of dignitaries including some crème de la crème of the society, government appointees, educationists, students, and the hierarchy of the Ghana Civil Society Organization platform on SDGs, leaders from the various Civil Society Organizations, NGOs, and representatives of partnering organizations including some members of the general public.

Source: TERIA

November 14, 2021November 14, 2021

Full list of winners of the prestigious Africa Early Childhood Education Awards 2021

The maiden edition of the prestigious Africa Early Childhood Awards (AECEA) 2021 went down in history with pomp and pageantry at the plush CIBT auditorium near Adabraka in Accra on Saturday November 13, 2021.

The colourful ceremony which came under the theme: “Childcare & Security During & Post Covid-19 Era” witnessed some excellent, hardworking, committed and deserving preschool teachers, institutions and notable personalities recognized for their immense contributions which brought about the desired change in the early childhood education sector across Africa.

AECEA 2021 is an initiative of Transformational Empowerment and Rural Integration Africa Foundation (TERIA Foundation), an NGO and supported by hosts of organizations, institutions and individuals including the Ministry of Education, Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI), Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on SDGs, Livelihood Development For Human Rights Promotion (Sierra Leone), Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ghana Tourism Authority, SWEB Foundation, Hope Source Foundation, Minerva Books & Stationery, Bamimo Enterprise, Ghana Education Alliance, My Child My concern, GHANNSE, Dext Technology Limited, Citi FM &TV and Pato’s Imaj Fashion.

Check out the full list of winners under various awards categories below:

Source: AECEA 2021

September 28, 2020September 28, 2020

World Peace Day 2020: Let all our efforts, actions geared towards promoting peace-Joseph Wemakor

The Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Mr. Joseph Wemakor has charged all Ghanaians to be peace loving, law abiding and above all ensure that all their actions, efforts and utterances are geared towards promoting a culture of peace, non-violence and its sustainability before, during and after the upcoming general elections slated for December 7.

He equally appealed to all and sundry to be ambassadors of peace; committed to preaching peace and endeavor to always condemn acts of violence which are likely to mar the peace the country enjoys.

Mr Wemakor who doubles as the Taskforce Member (National Focal Person) of the African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development (ANYL4SD) in Ghana also called on Ghanaians to commend all initiatives which seeks to promote peace and unity as the nation meanders towards electing the next leader to steer its affairs in the upcoming general elections.

He made this known while addressing a forum to commemorate this year’s International Day of Peace (World Peace Day 2020) on the theme: Shaping Peace Together for Ghana Election 2020: “Role of Civil Society and Media, Women and Youth” in Accra on Monday, September 21, 2020.

The International Day of Peace is a day observed around the world on September 21 each year. It is a day set aside by the UN General Assembly to end hostilities, atrocities, wars and any form of violence which threatens human existence on the planet earth.

The event, an initiative of the Defence Network for Democracy (DEFNED), a Civil Society Organization (CSO) supported by its partners convene various participants made up of senior policy analysts, peace and security researches/analysts, guests from academia and media, reps. of civil society organizations and civic institutions, students, reps. of youth groups and faith-based organizations, political parties and state agencies among others.

It was an avenue for participants to brainstorm on the best way forward in protecting, consolidating and sustaining the overall values, principles and credentials of Ghana’s democracy towards the realization of sustainable and inclusive peace and security environment particularly against all unforeseen existential peace and security threats and risks which has the potential to destabilize and disturb the peace and security of the country before, during and after the upcoming polls in December.

Elections are an essential part of the democratic process and organization, and a means to manage political competition and conflict in a peaceful way.

However, history has taught us in Ghana since 1992 that elections conducted has experienced some level of violence depending on the intensity which varies from election to election.

As the 2020 elections draws near, there’s a seemingly fear that if care is not taken thing could escalate looking at the unexpected events on the ground already which cast shadows on the upcoming polls.

But delivering his welcome address at the event, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Defence Network for Democracy, Mr. Kingsley Amoah called for unity among all Ghanaians irrespective of their religious beliefs or political affiliations as a way to ensure peace that prevails at all times in the country.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m calling on you today be it, a Moslem, a Buddhist, a Jewish, a Traditionalist or whoever, we are all created as one individuals to share common values together so we can sustain our country, our mission, and the planet and secure even the generation unborn”.

While citing some unforeseen acts rearing ugly heads in many parts of country such as reprisal attacks, politics of insults and violence, to mention few particularly at a time this year’s general elections inches near, he appealed to all Ghanaians to rise up as ambassadors of peace, volunteers and flatly condemn such acts to prevent violence.

Mr Amoah also called on the media to be circumspect in its reportage in order not to mislead the citizenry but to adequately inform them to become discerning in discharge of their civic duties.

For his part, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Languages, University of Ghana, Dr. Antwi Boasiako admonished politicians to desist from the politics of insults, diabolical invectives and the use of intemperate languages on campaign podiums, which has the potential to inflame passion and eventually lead to chaos.

The peace forum sought views from various speakers, participants and panel of discussants alike whose statements rally around promotion of sustainable peace, unity and transparency among others before, during and after the December 7 polls.

Defence Network for Democracy (DEFNED), is a fully-fledged non-profit, humanitarian and independent civil society organization dedicated to the promotion, consolidation and sustainability of democracy and human rights, good governance and development, peace and security in Ghana and Abroad.

Since its inception, DEFNED has continuously advanced the cause of the United Nations Charter, the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), the United Nations Instruments on Democracy, Peace and Security, the United Nations Human Rights Instruments, International Humanitarian Law , the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women ,Peace and Security, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth ,Peace and Security, the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Disarmament , and other regional and sub-regions instruments and convention towards deepening Ghana’s democracy , peace and security in the country.

Source:Newsghana24.com

September 13, 2020September 13, 2020

Shincheonji Covid-19 saga is more of state conscious, barefaced violation of rights-Former UN Chief

The Former President of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi has waded into the controversies surrounding the burgeoning issues of human rights abuses being perpetrated against the Shincheonji church and its leader, Lee Man-hee by the South Korean Government in this advent of Covid-19, described it as ‘unfortunate and unique barefaced violation of rights of freedom of worship’.

Speaking at a 2-day virtual summit to deliberate and proffer solutions to the escalating issues of human rights abuses around the world with emphasis on the South Korean situation, the former UN boss lamentably said:

“The Shincheonji Covid-19 saga is more of state and conscious barefaced violation of rights of freedom of worship of unique occurrence which ought to be widely condemned in no uncertain terms”.

“He further revealed: “this is just a clear sense of selective victimization in which the Shincheonji church appears to have only come under the heavy sledge hammer of the state”.

The high-level summit convene an avalanche of high-profile speakers including audience made up of human rights activists, advocates and journalists across the world particularly Africa, Europe, America and Asia.

The deadly coronavirus pandemic has brought untold hardships to the world at an alarming rate.

Despite the debilitating crises, there has been reports of various attacks ranging from stigmatization, discrimination, persecution and violence among others meted out to some persons and minority groups by their majority counterparts including some states across the world.

The unfortunate move is said to be obstructing efforts in the fight against the pandemic. The South Korea situation has been called to question by many when over 5,500 cases of human rights violations including coercive conversion, (of whom many are women), have been reported since the outbreak hit the country in February 2020.

In addition, an 89-year-old man who is the leader of Shincheonji church (minority religious group) has come under intense persecution and unlawful detention for allegedly withholding information from government officials to help combat coronavirus. His peace organization of a global repute (HWPL) is also on the verge of having its legal entityrevoked for ostensibly being a missionary organization in disguise.

In spite of wide condemnation of the issues, following calls from human rights advocates, activists, journalists, international and regional organizations, Civil Society Groups and Non-Governmental Organizations alike globally to the South Korean Government to back down and rescind on the matter to allow peace prevail, yet nothing concrete is done.

But touching on the South Korean situation, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi observed “the tendency to address theological criticism or disagreement with the founding ethos of the Shincheonji movement with discrimination or violation for human rights says it”.

While condemning the act flatly, he underscored the need for theological criticism not be confused with discrimination or violation of human rights.

For his part, the Executive Director of Accra Human Rights Forum International (AHRFI), Austin Kwabena Brako noted with grace concern the atrocities being committed against the Shincheonji church leader and members are unlawful which amounts to the violation of their rights as humans as well as freedom of worship.

He appealed to all and sundry to unite with one voice to relentlessly condemn the acts and bring pressure to bear on the South Korean authorities to take immediate action to free Mr Lee Man-hee from detention including setting his church and peace organization from persecution.

In his remark, the Executive Director of Human Rights Ghana (HRRG), Joseph Kobla Wemakor averred that it’s not time to apportion blame but rather time to unite and combine actions with passion to call the South Korean Government, authorities including their cronies of Shincheonji oppressors to order.

“Let’s rise up with one strong voice and speak up against the culture of oppression and tyranny being perpetrated by the South Korean Government against the good people of Shincheonji church and its leader Mr Lee and his Peace Organization, the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) because ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’.

The 2-day summit came to a successful end, witnessed diverse views expressed by an array of dignified audience who grace the occasion on how to effectively tackle the rising issues of human rights abuses and ensure peace and religious freedom is restored in South Korea.