A forum on the participation of NGOs in the 41st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 15th African Human Rights Book Fair, was opened over the weekend at the Coconut Groove Hotel in Accra, Ghana.
The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa, and the Ford Foundation and Rights and Democracy-backed three-day forum attracted a considerable proportion of about 150 delegates from human rights, NGOs and international organisations.

It precedes Ordinary Session of the African Commission.
Delegates will discuss freedom of expression in Africa, torture, natural resource exploitation and human rights abuse in Africa, International Criminal Court, human rights and international humanitarian law and conflicts situation of human rights defenders. Also, they will deliberate on the economic social and cultural rights, minority and indigenous peoples’ rights in Africa, death penalty, the situation of women’s rights in Africa: advocacy for the ratification of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, ending impunity, human rights education, and prisons.

This turning point in the history of human rights struggle in the continent came at a time, when Ghana celebrates its golden jubilee, after attained the independence that guarantees its civil and political right to self-determination and governance, 50 years ago.
Joe Ghartey, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Ghana, presided over the opening ceremony, where he spurred the delegates to remain steadfast on the cause of reforms for the wellbeing of Africans.

Mr. Ghartey said the role of civil society in the development, liberation and integration of African cannot be overemphasised. He said this dogma is reinforced in the preamble to the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which states: Guided by the common vision of united and strong Africa and by the need to build a partnership between governments and all segments of civil society, in particular women, youth and the private sector, in order to strengthen solidarity and cohesion among peoples.

"It will be impossible", he continued, "to build a strong and united Africa without the active involvement of NGOs".
He said the "straight path" for Africa is respect for fundamental human and peoples’ rights and freedom.
He therefore, urged African NGOs to develop strategies that make them more relevant to all of Africa. He implored them to conduct "soul searching and self scrutiny" in order to develop strategies to improve on their limitations.

The Ghanaian Justice Minister, Ghartey, then paid tribute to human rights NGOs in Africa, assuring them that their names will be inscribed in gold, when the history of a truly liberated Africa is being written.
Delivering her welcoming statement, Hannah Forster, Executive Director of ACDHRS, complimented Ghanaian President John Kuffour, government and the people of Ghana for their accorded hospitality, after welcoming the participants.

Ms Forster reminded the delegates that the forum will offer participants the opportunity to take stock of the situation of human rights and democracy in Africa. She noted that the forum reflects on the latest development in human rights in the continent, especially the adoption of the African Women’s Protocol. "To date, only 20 countries have ratified this protocol. As we work towards universal ratification, we would wish to urge our present host (Ghana), to join other African states that have ratified it.

She said Africa continued to witness a curious twist in human rights situation on the continent, because of the changes in priorities and perceptions at the international level. "The ongoing war on terror," she added, "diverted the world’s attention to some of the gruesome human rights violation and abuses that persist in Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, to name but a few".

She provided that the birth of rebel cliques and their activities in these and other countries continued to inflict grave misery, compounded by the targeting, killing, maiming and displacement of civilian population.

On the rights of candidates that supersede those of the electorate in the process of seeking redress for disenfranchisement, the ACDHRS Executive Director deplored this irony in Africa’s democracy.

She observed that the harassments and dehumanising acts meted on migrant workers and their families are evidence of xenophobia and intolerance that crept deep in the mentality of most Africans. "Africans living or working outside their countries are treated with contempt and accused of all the ills associated with these countries. The ‘foreigner phenomenon has made it virtually impossible for many migrant workers to enjoy basic rights in most African countries," he frowned.

Ms Forster expressed concerns about "lack of access" to HIV/AIDS drugs, and then forwarded fair trade policies between the ‘first world’ and the ‘third world’ as the key solution to bridging the gap between developed and developing countries. She maintained that justice, as the first condition for humanity, remains elusive.

Prof Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, lauded the importance of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to building a democratic rule and, culture, and promoting civilised relations between states and their citizens.

The Professor sanctioned African NGOs to gear up and be more outspoken. "We all contribute to progress but we need to work more closely together to promote a strong and broad social movement to advance human rights, democratic rule and civilised social conditions in our countries," he added.

Maitre Sidiki Kaba of FIDH, urged the delegates to pursue the cause of human rights with vigour and vibrancy, devoid of confrontation. Mr Kaba deplored the precarious human rights situation of the continent, describing them as unacceptable.

Shortly after the opening ceremony, the delegates adopted the agenda and witnessed a string of presentations on various sub-regional reports on human situations in Africa, the Darfur crisis, and update on new challenges for the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights before discussions were held upon them.  The proceedings of the forum continue.