ACILA holds discussion on treatment of vulnerable groups

The African Center for International law and Accountability (ACILA) on Tuesday, October 3 held a panel discussion on the "Treatment of vulnerable groups in the country".

The event was held at Royal Lamerta hotel in Kumasi and lasted for about 4 hours.

The chairperson for the discussion was Justice Emil Francis Short, former Commissioner of Human Rights

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Joining him at the panel was Dr Augustina Naami of the Department of Social Work at the University of Ghana, Dr Stephen Kofi Sonder at the Department of Public Law at KNUST Faculty of Law and Afia Pokuaa, host of 'Mmera mu ns3m' on Adom TV. The Executive Director for ACILA, William Nyarko was also at the event.

Public sector workers, stakeholders, students and journalists were also present at the event.

The discussion was centered on the treatment of the vulnerable groups in the country and their lack of accessibility to justice.

Chairpersons Justice Emil Francis Short raised concerns on the neglect of the vulnerable groups in our various sectors. He also called on the government to get separate initiatives for the vulnerable.

Executive Director for Africa Center for International Law and Accountability, William Nyarko also chipped in on the issues of witch camps in the country and why government must shut down all the camps in the country.

"The last time I checked government had asked for the closure of all witch camps in the country. I hope there are no more, should in case they still exist I'm calling on the government to criminalize them and make sure all those still in existence face the law".

Afia Pokuaa Vim lady as she is affectionately called expressed her disappointment about government neglect towards legal aid and the vulnerable lack of access to justice. She called on the government to support the legal aid department instead of forming the Special Prosecutor.

"Government has established office of the Special Prosecutor meanwhile Legal aid is in squatters. Special Prosecutor must work in the office of the legal aid not the other way round", she said.

"I'm pleading on the media to study law so that they can act as an intermediary between the people and the lawyer"

She ended by also calling on the various sectors to enforce the laws and punish culprits who are found in any wrongdoing in the public sector.