ÿWPCò ˜-!òCY¦’–7µ*ê¥ÏÈ-§’‡7‹Ö­Š°*0p)Ô‡n&‚m¦[SìjûMLÚ;0ùL(xT¼ÀÐ^X5(æ%]Cr˜<äv’>ÿÈïþgÂÐôêßQ}‰{èK¿«E’Í,Z#/¼™FÅ¿g?u«WJ“”¢Ãâ †›ÐŽÕUbÆ=B”g¢`þÖŘj⸊Cÿšº¼ÿ6ü¦" !˜µÔýRñQ â@ žyh[ü>­9;®áî^’Z¸®»èÖ #û¬.¯¨~nšlS¸1;Yi¼“îP]åÁžw8s‡°û+˜+ÇÌw¤ÜdŸlÌ3³míüh& ô 2›s@ׅŸcïë{‹PS̰½»ƒØ4!AùU«½ªÍî€Ûþ¡ã‚DËqf®Z#ÉìUNµ % 0: ^ C wO 4S g v mx ’ ! 1‡) 72° 0câ 0wE 0м 0 F 0´æ 0Çš 0Ûa 0ï< 0D+ 1uo 72ä 1‡ 72 1‡Ï 72VVNˆˆˆˆˆ 0æŠ 1epppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp BÕ˜\\YORK_UNIVERSITY\q_hrts_hp4000tnÒV,,,,ÒV0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô´z/— ½”u/ê:i¢Ø+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Ð6 ' QSI Rental0QSI Rental .    h6CEIMQUY]aAutoList1""""""""i)1)a) "(;3£$´´Ô2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à(Oé;$µµà0  àÔ2#ÔÚ  ÚaÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0` (#(#à(b·¤$¶¶à0  àà0` (#(#àÔ2#ÔÚ  ÚÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0¸ ` (#` (#à(xir$··à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àÔ2#Ô(Ú  Ú0Ú  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0¸ (#¸ (#à(ŒÜ$¸¸à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àÔ2#Ô(Ú  ÚaÚ  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0h(#(#à(ŸF$¹¹à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àÔ2#Ô(Ú  ÚÚ  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0Àh(#h(#à(³Àô$ººà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àÔ2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0À(#À(#à(ǵ{$»»à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àÔ2#ÔÚ  ÚaÚ  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0p(#(#à(F$ïïà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àà0p(#(#àÔ2#ÔÙ ÙÚ  ÚÚ  ÚÙ Ù)Ô3  Ôà0Èp(#p(#àÙ Ù3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)hFCEIMQUY]aAutoList2""""""""i)1)a)"hVCEIMQUY]aAutoList3""""""""i)1)a)"<A+> N™:Outline001_1Ó  ÓÓ5+Û Û4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤5ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2Ó$$$$$$$$(ÿÿ35;AGMSY_11.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼fø»XXÔò òÓ  ÓÔCEUS.,ÔGHANA€Ô€X; X»¼føÔó óòò11óó/Ð ° ÐÌÓ  Óò òó óÔUKCE.,ÔÌò òÔ_ÔCERDÔ_Ô€26òòthóó€No.€18€(A/8418)€(1971)ó óÐ “ã ÐÌÌ28.€€From€its€56òòthóó€to€its€58òòthóó€meetings,€the€Committee€proceeded€to€determine€formally€its€view€asÐ O Ÿ Ða€Committee€(as€distinct€from€the€views€expressed€at€previous€meetings,€which€were€those€of€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðindividual€members)€as€to€which€reports€were€ð ðsatisfactoryðð,€in€the€sense€that€they€furnished€all€orÐ ! q Ðmost€of€the€required€information,€and€which€reports€were€ð ðunsatisfactoryðð€or€ð ðincompleteðð€andÐ  Z  Ðtherefore€needed€to€be€supplemented€by€further€information.€€The€initial€report€(and€supplementaryÐ ó C  Ðreport,€if€any)€of€each€State€Party€was€put€before€the€Committee€separately€by€the€Chairman.€€WhereÐ Ü,  Ðthere€was€no€consensus,€the€question€whether€a€State€Partyððs€report€(or€reports)€was€ð ðsatisfactoryððÐ Å  Ðor€whether,€failing€that,€the€Committee€wished€to€request€additional€information€from€that€StateÐ ®þ  ÐParty,€was€decided€by€vote.Ð —ç  ÐÌ29.€€The€Committee€expressed€itself€as€satisfied€with€the€completeness€of€the€reports€submitted€byÐ i¹ Ðthe€following€15€States€Parties,€from€which€no€additional€information€was€requested:€...€Ghana€...Ð R¢ ÐÌÔCE.,UK.,ÖÔò òÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌó ó__________Ð V)¦$( Ðà  àòò11óó/€€For€the€Committeeððs€consideration€of€the€third€periodic€report€of€Ghana€at€the€tenthÐ ?*%) Ðsession,€see€paragraphs€180„183€below.ò òÐ  (+x&* ÐÔ_ÔCERD€€29òòTHóó€No.€18€(A/9618)€(1974)ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌ86.€€The€second€periodic€report€of€Ghana€and€the€supplement€thereto,€along€with€the€informationÐ l¼ Ðsubmitted€in€accordance€with€the€Committeeððs€decision€3€(VII),€were€viewed€as€evidence€ofÐ U¥ Ðcontinued€co„operation€with€the€Committee.€€The€Government€of€Ghana€was€congratulated€on€theÐ > Ž Ðestablishment€of€the€Ghana€National€Committee€on€òòApartheidóó€and€thanked€for€the€information€itÐ ' w Ðsupplied€on€the€activities€of€the€Ghana€United€Nations€Association;€these€measures€were€viewed€asÐ  ` Ðinstances€of€positive€action€to€apply€the€provisions€of€article€2,€paragraph€1€(e),€and€article€7€of€theÐ ù I ÐConvention.€€Interest€was€expressed€in€receiving€more€information€in€future€reports€on€thoseÐ â 2  Ðorganizations€and€their€achievements.€€Appreciation€was€expressed€also€for€the€informationÐ Ë   Ðindicating€that€Ghana€maintained€no€relations€of€any€kind€with€South€Africa€and€Southern€Rhodesia,Ð ´  Ðprohibited€the€importation€of€any€goods€made€in€those€countries,€and€denied€its€port€facilities€or€airÐ í  Ðspace€to€their€ships€or€aircraft.Ð †Ö  ÐÌ87.€€It€was€noted€that€there€was€need€for€more€information€on€the€legislative€measures€which€giveÐ X¨  Ðeffect€to€the€provisions€of€the€Convention.€€The€texts€of€relevant€legislative€provisions€wereÐ A‘ Ðrequested,€since€many€of€the€provisions€enumerated€or€referred€to€in€the€present€reports€were€notÐ *z Ðprovided.€€The€Avoidance€of€Discrimination€Act,€cited€in€connection€with€article€4€of€theÐ c ÐConvention,€was€not€as€extensive€in€its€scope€as€the€article€itself.€€Article€12€of€the€1969Ð üL ÐConstitution,€which€provided€that€every€person€should€have€unimpeded€access€to€the€courts€and€wasÐ å5 Ðthus€directly€related€to€article€6€of€the€Convention,€did€not€satisfy€all€the€requirements€of€that€article;Ð Î Ðmore€information€was€needed€on€the€remedies€available,€on€the€jurisdiction€of€the€courts,€and€onÐ · Ðwhether€there€were€any€administrative€tribunals.€€Regarding€the€prohibition€of€the€importation€ofÐ  ð Ðgoods€form€South€Africa€and€Rhodesia,€it€was€pointed€out€that€the€reports€did€not€specify€the€lawsÐ ‰Ù Ðand€regulations€in€which€that€prohibition€was€laid€down,€did€not€make€it€clear€whether€the€exportÐ r Ðof€goods€to€those€two€countries€was€also€considered€an€offence,€and€id€not€provide€information€onÐ [« Ðthe€legal€provisions,€if€any,€that€enforced€the€trade€sanctions€against€the€racist€rgimes.Ð D” ÐÌ88.€€Aware€of€the€fact€that€the€third€periodic€report€of€Ghana€was€already€on€its€way€and€would€beÐ f Ðconsidered€at€the€tenth€session,€some€members€refrained€from€participation€in€the€consideration€ofÐ ÿO Ðthe€reports€currently€before€the€Committee€pending€the€receipt€of€the€more€up„to„date€report.Ð è 8 ÐÌ89.€€The€representative€of€the€Government€of€Ghana,€besides€giving€clarifications€in€response€toÐ º" ! Ðsome€specific€questions€addressed€to€him,€assured€the€Committee€that€the€third€periodic€reportÐ £#ó" Ðincluded€very€detailed€information€concerning€measures€adopted€to€give€effect€to€the€provisions€ofÐ Œ$Ü# Ðthe€Convention.€Ð u%Å $ ÐÌÌÌÌÐ  *R%) Ðò òÌCERD€€29òòTHóó€No.€18€(A/9618)€(1974)ó óÐ šê ÐÌÌ180.€€The€Committee€noted€that,€although€no€new€developments€relevant€to€the€implementation€ofÐ V¦ Ðthe€provisions€of€the€Convention€had€occurred€since€the€submission€of€Ghanaððs€second€periodicÐ ?  Ðreport,€the€third€periodic€report€before€it€contained€extensive€and€detailed€information€amplifyingÐ ( x Ðand€supplementing€the€information€supplied€in€the€past,€with€particular€reference€to€the€measuresÐ  a Ðadopted€by€the€reporting€State€to€implement€the€resolutions€of€the€competent€organs€of€the€UnitedÐ ú J ÐNations€regarding€the€racist€rgimes€in€southern€Africa€and€also€to€the€activities€of€the€NationalÐ ã 3  ÐCommittee€on€òòApartheidóó.€€The€Committee€welcomed€the€fact€that€the€texts€of€relevant€legislationÐ Ì   Ðwere€embodied€in€an€annex€to€the€report.Ð µ  ÐÌ181.€€Although€the€information€submitted€by€Ghana€in€response€to€the€Committeeððs€decision€3€(VII)Ð ‡×  Ðhad€already€been€considered€at€the€ninth€session,€in€conjunction€with€the€Committeeððs€considerationÐ pÀ  Ðof€the€second€periodic€report€of€Ghana€(see€paras.€86„89€above),€that€information€was€consideredÐ Y©  Ðagain€at€the€tenth€session.€€The€Committee€found€that€sections€3€and€4€of€the€Avoidance€ofÐ B’ ÐDiscrimination€Act€of€1957€met€some€of€the€requirements€of€article€4€of€the€Convention,€but€notÐ +{ Ðthose€required€by€the€provisions€of€paragraph€(a),€which€related€to€activities€conducted€byÐ d Ðindividuals,€nor€the€provisions€of€paragraph€(b),€relating€to€members€who€did€not€have€ð ðtheÐ ýM Ðmanagement€controlðð€of€organizations.Ð æ6 ÐÌ182.€€Referring€to€the€nine€principles€enumerated€in€the€report€and€described€as€principles€whichÐ ¸ Ðunderscore€the€liberties€of€the€individual,€some€members€asked€whether€they€were€more€thanÐ ¡ñ Ðtheoretical€principles,€whether€they€were€supplemented€by€laws€or€regulations€prohibiting€racialÐ ŠÚ Ðdiscrimination€in€specific€areas;€how€they€were€applied€to€practice,€particularly€by€the€courts;€andÐ sà Ðhow€they€might€have€been€affected€by€the€suspension€of€the€Constitution€of€1969.€€The€proceduresÐ \¬ Ðand€agencies€which€might€be€available€to€individuals€who€felt€that€they€had€been€victims€of€racialÐ E• Ðdiscrimination€were€the€subject€of€another€inquiry.€€Some€members€inquired€whether€the€policy€ofÐ .~ Ðð ðracial€integrationðð€followed€by€the€Government€of€Ghana€„€by€virtue€of€which€the€word€ð ðtribeðð€hadÐ g Ðbeen€ð ðremoved€from€all€official€documentsðð€and€citizens€had€been€ð ðasked€to€consider€themselvesÐ  P ÐGhanaiansðð€„€was€not€tantamount€to€an€attempt€at€nation„wide€assimilation.Ð é 9 ÐÌ183.€The€representative€of€Ghana€stated€that€he€had€taken€note€of€the€comments€on€the€degree€toÐ »" ! Ðwhich€the€Avoidance€of€Discrimination€Act€of€1957€met€the€requirements€of€article€4€of€theÐ ¤#ô" ÐConvention;€he€informed€the€Committee€that€discussions€were€in€progress€in€Ghana€with€a€view€toÐ $Ý# Ðcarrying€out€a€general€review€of€the€countryððs€legislation;€and,€in€reply€to€one€of€the€questionsÐ v%Æ $ Ðmentioned€in€the€preceding€paragraph,€he€stated€that,€at€present,€the€only€remedy€available€toÐ _&¯!% Ðpersons€who€had€been€victims€of€racial€discrimination€lay€in€recourse€to€the€courts.€Ð H'˜"& ÐÐ  1(#' Ðò òCERD€€A/33/18€(1978)ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌ326.€€The€fourth€and€fifth€periodic€reports€of€Ghana,€submitted€in€one€document€as€requested€by€theÐ l¼ ÐCommittee€(A/32/18,€para.€60€(g)),€were€considered€together€with€the€introductory€statement€madeÐ U¥ Ðby€the€representative€of€the€reporting€State.€€The€Committee€noted€with€appreciation€that€the€reportÐ > Ž Ðcontained€comments€on€the€observations€and€inquiries€made€by€its€members€during€the€considerationÐ ' w Ðof€the€second€and€third€periodic€reports€at€the€ninth€and€tenth€sessions€respectively€(A/9618,€paras.Ð  ` Ð86„89€and€180„183).Ð ù I ÐÌ327.€€The€question€of€the€extent€to€which€the€legislation€of€Ghana€satisfied€the€requirements€ofÐ Ë   Ðarticle€4,€subparagraphs€(a)€and€(b),€of€the€Convention€„€which€had€been€discussed€at€earlier€sessionsÐ ´  Ð(òòibidóó.,€paras.€87€and€181)€„€was€discussed€again€at€the€eighteenth€session.€€It€was€noted€that€the€reportÐ í  Ðconceded€that€the€Avoidance€of€Discrimination€Act€of€1957€(No.€38)€did€not€deal€specifically€withÐ †Ö  Ðracial€discrimination€and€that€there€was€no€legislation€in€Ghana€dealing€with€dissemination€of€racistÐ o¿  Ðideas€or€with€incitement€to€racial€discrimination.€€Nevertheless,€the€report€asserted€that€ð ðthe€law€asÐ X¨  Ðit€stands€at€present€can€cope€with€any€racial€problemðð€„€through€application€of€sections€182€A€andÐ A‘ Ð183€of€the€Criminal€Code€and€ð ðdepending€on€what€interpretation€is€given€to€the€expression€ððpublicÐ *z Ðgoodðððð.€€It€argued€that€ð ðwhat€is€ððpublic€interestðð€depends€largely€on€the€policy€of€the€Governmentðð,Ð c Ðand€that€ð ðit€can€be€safely€surmised€that€the€Government€will€prohibit€the€dissemination€of€racialÐ üL Ðideasðð.€€Members€of€the€Committee€observed€that€the€concept€of€ð ðpublic€interestðð€was€too€vague€toÐ å5 Ðbe€useful€in€a€juridical€context€and€that€the€legal€situation€was€not€enough€to€ensure€compliance€withÐ Î Ðthe€requirements€of€the€Convention€for€explicit€prohibition€of€racial€discrimination;€and€they€urgedÐ · Ðthe€Government€of€Ghana€to€remedy€the€situation€and€to€include€in€its€contemplated€newÐ  ð ÐConstitution€more€precise€provisions€relating€specifically€to€racial€discrimination.€€The€CommitteeÐ ‰Ù Ðwas€of€the€view€that€the€provisions€of€the€Criminal€Code€mentioned€in€the€reports€of€Ghana€did€notÐ r Ðfully€meet€the€requirements€of€article€4€of€the€Convention,€compliance€with€which€is€mandatory.Ð [« ÐÌ328.€€It€was€noted€that€past€requests€for€more€information€on€the€application€of€article€6€of€theÐ -} ÐConvention€(A/9618,€paras.€87€and€182)€had€not€been€satisfied€in€the€document€under€consideration,Ð f Ðand€the€hope€was€again€expressed€that€the€Government€of€Ghana€would€supply€the€relevantÐ ÿO Ðinformation€in€its€next€report.Ð è 8 ÐÌ329.€€While€welcoming€again€the€information€given€in€the€report€about€the€National€CommitteeÐ º" ! ÐAgainst€òòApartheidóó,€one€of€whose€aims€was€to€give€effect€to€the€provisions€of€article€7€of€theÐ £#ó" ÐConvention,€members€of€the€Committee€expressed€the€hope€that€more€information€on€theÐ Œ$Ü# Ðprogrammes€and€activities€of€that€body€would€be€supplied.Ð u%Å $ ÐÌ330.€€The€activities€through€which€solidarity€with€the€liberation€movements€was€manifested€wereÐ G'—"& Ðcommended.Ð 0(€#' ÐÌ331.€€The€representative€of€Ghana€assured€the€Committee€that€the€comments€and€inquiries€made€byÐ *R%) Ðits€members€would€be€conveyed€to€his€Government€so€that€it€could€take€them€into€account€whenÐ ë*;&* Ðpreparing€its€next€periodic€report.Ð Ô+$'+ ÐÐ  ½, (, Ðò òCERD€€(A/38/18)€(1983)ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌ348.€€The€sixth€and€seventh€periodic€reports€of€Ghana€(CERD/C/91/Add.21)€were€introduced€by€theÐ l¼ Ðrepresentative€of€the€reporting€State,€who€pointed€out€that€in€response€to€the€observations€made€byÐ U¥ Ðthe€Committee€at€the€time€of€its€consideration€of€his€Governmentððs€previous€reports,€provisionsÐ > Ž Ðfulfilling€the€mandatory€requirements€of€article€4€of€the€Convention€had€been€included€in€theÐ ' w ÐConstitution€promulgated€in€1979.€€He€also€stated€that,€although€that€Constitution€had€beenÐ  ` Ðsuspended€by€the€Provisional€National€Defence€Council€(PNDC)€which€had€come€to€power€at€theÐ ù I Ðend€of€1981,€the€human€rights€and€non„discrimination€provisions€of€the€Constitution€had€beenÐ â 2  Ðretained€and€reaffirmed€in€PNDC€Law€42€of€December€1982.€€In€addition,€he€drew€the€attention€ofÐ Ë   Ðthe€members€of€the€Committee€to€further€information,€provided€at€their€request,€on€theÐ ´  Ðimplementation€of€Ghana€of€articles€6€and€7€of€the€Convention.Ð í  ÐÌ349.€€The€Committee€commended€the€Government€of€Ghana€for€the€comprehensiveness€of€its€reportÐ o¿  Ðand,€in€particular,€for€its€major€contribution€to€the€struggle€against€racism,€racial€discrimination€andÐ X¨  Ðòòapartheidóó€at€the€international€level.Ð A‘ ÐÌ350.€€However,€the€Committee€expressed€concern€with€regard€to€the€information€on€the€suspensionÐ c Ðof€the€1979€Constitution€of€Ghana,€especially€because€the€report€referred€constantly€to€thatÐ üL ÐConstitution€without€explaining€which€of€its€provisions€remained€in€force.€€It€was€observed€that€evenÐ å5 Ðif€the€provisions€and€all€the€laws€on€human€rights€and€non„discrimination€remained€in€effect,€it€wasÐ Î Ðnot€possible€to€divorce€the€provisions€on€human€rights€from€the€rest€of€the€legislation.€€The€articlesÐ · Ðof€the€Constitution€relating€to€basic€human€rights,€at€least,€should€have€been€included€in€the€reportÐ  ð Ðto€enable€the€Committee€to€judge€whether€they€adequately€reflected€the€provisions€of€theÐ ‰Ù ÐConvention.€€On€the€contrary,€the€legislative€measures€referred€to€in€the€report€did€not€meet€all€theÐ r Ðrequirements€of€the€Convention€and€it€was€the€opinion€of€several€members€that€the€Government€ofÐ [« ÐGhana€should€enact€laws€which€fully€applied€its€provisions.€€In€that€connection,€members€of€theÐ D” ÐCommittee€wished€to€know€the€composition€of€the€Provisional€National€Defence€Council,€which€hadÐ -} Ðlegislative€powers,€and€whether€the€Council€was€expected€to€act€as€a€constituent€assembly€to€drawÐ f Ðup€a€new€constitution.€€They€also€wished€to€have€information€on€the€political€and€social€structuresÐ ÿO Ðenvisaged€for€the€country€by€the€Council,€and€on€the€decentralization€plan€designed€to€introduce€theÐ è 8 Ðnew€structure€of€local€governments.€€It€was€asked€what€was€the€exact€scope€of€the€measure€taken€toÐ Ñ!!  Ðabolish€the€Ghanaian€judicial€system€and€to€replace€it€with€peopleððs€courts:€why€that€measure€hadÐ º" ! Ðbeen€taken€and€whether€it€was€permanent€or€temporary,€how€it€was€possible€for€the€courts€to€applyÐ £#ó" Ðlaws€declared€suspended€and€whether€any€new€developments€in€the€application€of€laws€by€theÐ Œ$Ü# ÐGhanaian€courts€had€occurred€since€July€1982.€€It€was€asked€also€whether€the€system€of€legalÐ u%Å $ Ðrehabilitation€existed€in€Ghana€in€the€case€of€a€person€who€had€been€disqualified€from€election€toÐ ^&®!% Ðthe€Parliament€by€a€law€in€force€or€had€been€convicted€of€an€offence€relating€to,€or€connected€with,Ð G'—"& Ðelection€under€a€law€in€force€in€Ghana,€as€provided€for€by€article€77€of€the€Constitution.€Ð 0(€#' ÐFurthermore,€it€was€stated€in€the€report€that€the€rights€and€freedoms€of€the€individual€were€subjectÐ )i$( Ðto€respect€for€the€rights€and€freedoms€of€others€and€the€public€interest,€and€it€was€asked€what€wasÐ *R%) Ðthe€definition€given€by€the€Ghanaian€authorities€to€the€term€ð ðpublic€interestðð.Ð ë*;&* ÐÌ351.€€The€Committee€also€expressed€the€wish€to€receive€information€on€the€demographicÐ ½, (, Ðcomposition€of€the€population€of€Ghana€with€regard,€in€particular,€to€the€ethnic€and€linguisticÐ ¦-ö(- Ðgroups,€which€would€be€useful€especially€to€ascertain€whether€the€rights€enumerated€in€article€5€ofÐ ° Ðthe€Convention€were€equally€respected€in€all€sectors€of€the€population€of€Ghana.€€It€was€asked,€inÐ ™é Ðthat€connection,€how€the€population€census€was€taken€in€Ghana€and€whether€there€had€been€anyÐ ‚Ò Ðstudies€on€the€racial€composition€of€the€different€regions.Ð k» ÐÌ352.€€With€reference€to€article€1,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Convention,€one€member€of€the€CommitteeÐ =  Ðwished€to€know€what€concrete€measures€the€Government€of€Ghana€had€adopted€to€ensure€theÐ & v Ðdevelopment€of€those€racial€groups€that€might€have€lagged€somewhat€behind.€€With€reference€toÐ  _ Ðarticle€2,€paragraph€1€(e),€of€the€Convention,€another€member€wished€to€know€the€reasons€given€byÐ ø H Ða€court€in€Ghana€for€its€decision€on€the€Whittaker€òòvsóó.€Choiteram€case€concerning€the€administrationÐ á 1  Ðof€an€association€established€to€foster€racial€harmony€with€other€countries.Ð Ê   ÐÌ353.€€In€connection€with€article€4€of€the€Convention,€reference€was€made€to€the€statement€containedÐ œì  Ðin€the€report€that€there€had€never€been€any€racial€discrimination€in€Ghana€and€that€it€had€thereforeÐ …Õ  Ðnever€been€found€necessary€to€adopt€any€measures€other€than€judicial€to€eliminate€it.€€It€wasÐ n¾  Ðobserved€that€criminal€court€decisions€were€not€sufficient€to€constitute€compliance€with€theÐ W§  Ðprovisions€of€article€4€of€the€Convention€and€that€the€Avoidance€of€Discrimination€Act,€1957,Ð @ Ðreferred€to€in€the€report,€showed€that€the€Government€of€Ghana€had€at€one€time€made€provision€forÐ )y Ðthe€existence€of€tribal,€regional,€racial€or€religious€discrimination€or€even€taken€note€of€the€fact€thatÐ b Ðsuch€discrimination€existed.€€In€addition,€it€was€important€to€ascertain€whether€there€were€courtÐ ûK Ðdecisions€on€breaches€of€article€31€of€the€Constitution,€which€referred€to€discrimination€or€otherÐ ä4 Ðarticles€on€fundamental€human€rights,€and€how€redress€was€afforded€by€the€courts.€€The€request€wasÐ Í Ðtherefore€made€that€documents€relevant€to€the€implementation€of€article€4€of€the€Convention€wouldÐ ¶ Ðbe€made€available€to€the€Committee,€and€it€was€suggested€that€the€Government€of€Ghana€shouldÐ Ÿï Ðenact€legislation€designed€to€give€the€force€of€law€to€the€provisions€of€the€Convention.€€WithÐ ˆØ Ðparticular€reference€to€article€4,€paragraphs€(b)€and€(c),€clarification€was€requested€on€the€legalÐ qÁ Ðprovision€concerning€sentences€of€imprisonment€which€could€be€imposed€on€offenders,€which€courtÐ Zª Ðhad€jurisdiction€in€cases€of€acts€contrary€to€the€Constitution€committed€in€abuse€of€authority,€andÐ C“ Ðhow€such€cases€were€dealt€with€under€the€judicial€authority.Ð ,| ÐÌ354.€€As€regards€article€5€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€legalÐ þN Ðstatus€foreigners€had€in€Ghana€and€what€the€official€policy€was€on€the€problem€of€transnationalÐ ç 7 Ðethnic€groups,€especially€since€dual€citizenship€was€not€accepted€in€Ghana,€whether€anyone€wasÐ Ð!   Ðwithout€a€nationality€and€whether€there€were€agreements€with€other€countries€to€facilitate€theÐ ¹" ! Ðvoluntary€and€orderly€return€of€their€nationals€residing€in€Ghana.€€With€regard€to€the€phenomenonÐ ¢#ò" Ðof€migration€of€workers€between€Ghana€and€the€neighbouring€countries,€information€was€requestedÐ ‹$Û# Ðon€the€protection€of€their€rights€and€on€laws€and€bilateral€agreements€regulating€their€recruitmentÐ t%Ä $ Ðwages,€working€conditions€and€freedom€of€movement.€€It€was€also€asked€what€sanctions€had€beenÐ ]&­!% Ðprovided€to€enforce€the€Education€Act€1961,€under€which€no€person€was€to€be€refused€admission€asÐ F'–"& Ða€pupil€to€any€school€on€account€of€the€religious€persuasion,€nationality,€race€or€language€of€himselfÐ /(#' Ðor€of€either€of€his€parents.Ð )h$( ÐÌ355.€€With€reference€to€article€6€of€the€Convention,€it€was€asked€whether€the€fact€that€the€existingÐ ê*:&* Ðcourts€in€Ghana€were€not€to€interfere€with€the€functioning€of€the€peopleððs€courts€meant€that€decisionsÐ Ó+#'+ Ðof€the€peopleððs€courts€were€not€appealable.€€The€wish€was€also€expressed€that€the€text€of€theÐ ¼, (, ÐOmbudsman€Act€be€made€available€to€the€Committee.Ð ¥-õ(- Ї356.€€With€respect€to€article€7€of€the€Convention,€more€information€was€requested€on€educationÐ ° Ðpolicy,€teaching€of€the€culture€of€other€ethnic€groups,€the€role€of€the€information€media€and€theÐ ™é Ðexistence€of€bilateral€agreements€on€cultural€exchanges.€€It€was€also€asked€whether€any€attempt€hadÐ ‚Ò Ðbeen€made€to€publicize€the€provisions€of€the€Convention€among€the€Ghanaian€people.Ð k» ÐÌ357.€€Replying€to€some€of€the€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€ofÐ =  ÐGhana€expressed€the€opinion€that€it€was€not€impossible€to€retain€some€elements€of€the€1979Ð & v ÐConstitution€of€Ghana€and€suspend€others;€however,€he€would€convey€to€his€Government€theÐ  _ Ðrecommendation€made€by€members€of€the€Committee€concerning€the€enactment€of€Ghana€ofÐ ø H Ðappropriate€national€legislation€to€meet€all€the€requirements€of€article€4€of€the€Convention.€€He€alsoÐ á 1  Ðexplained€that€the€abolition€of€the€judicial€system€had€been€recommended€in€a€resolution€issued€byÐ Ê   Ðsome€groups€of€members€of€the€Accra€and€Tomale€peopleððs€and€workersðð€defence€committees.€€TheÐ ³  ÐGovernment,€however,€had€formulated€a€statement€making€it€clear€that€the€resolution€lacked€theÐ œì  Ðforce€of€law€and€that€the€judicial€system€established€before€the€Provisional€National€DefenceÐ …Õ  ÐCouncil€had€come€to€power€remained€in€existence.Ð n¾  ÐÌ358.€€The€representative€also€stated€that€information€on€the€demographic€composition€was€notÐ @ Ðavailable€because€the€planned€national€census€had€not€yet€been€carried€out.€€However,€projectionsÐ )y Ðbased€on€the€1960€census€indicated€that€Ghana€had€a€population€of€between€12€and€14€millionÐ b Ðinhabitants€and€that€there€were€60€ethnic€groups.Ð ûK ÐÐ  ä4 Ðò òCERD€€A/42/18€(1987)ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌ151.€€The€eighth€periodic€report€of€Ghana€(CERD/C/118/Add.28)€was€considered€by€the€CommitteeÐ l¼ Ðat€its€757òòthóó€meeting€on€7€March€1986€(CERD/C/SR.757).Ð U¥ ÐÌ152.€€In€introducing€his€countryððs€report,€the€representative€of€Ghana€stated€that€it€was€mainly€aÐ ' w Ðresponse€to€questions€raised€by€the€Committee€during€consideration€of€Ghanaððs€sixth€and€seventhÐ  ` Ðperiodic€reports.Ð ù I ÐÌ153.€€Members€of€the€Committee€appreciated€the€fact€that€Ghana€had€endeavoured€to€fulfil€itsÐ Ë   Ðreporting€obligations€despite€the€exceptional€circumstances€in€the€country.€€They€pointed€out,Ð ´  Ðhowever,€that€the€report€had€not€been€prepared€in€accordance€with€the€Committeeððs€guidelinesÐ í  Ð(CERD/C/70/Rev.1).€€They€also€stated€that€it€would€be€useful,€in€order€to€assess€the€situation,€toÐ †Ö  Ðhave€some€information€about€the€various€ethnic€groups€in€Ghana.€€In€that€connection,€the€questionÐ o¿  Ðwas€posed€as€to€why€it€was€illegal,€as€stated€in€the€report,€for€any€individual€or€establishment€toÐ X¨  Ðcollect€and€disseminate€information€on€the€ethnic€composition€of€the€population.€€One€member€notedÐ A‘ Ðthat€the€report€did€not€reflect€the€fact€that,€although€the€Constitution€had€been€suspended,€itsÐ *z Ðfundamental€human€rights€provisions€were€being€applied.€€Further€information€on€the€constitutionalÐ c Ðsituation€in€Ghana€was€requested.Ð üL ÐÌ154.€€Members€of€the€Committee€welcomed€the€information€on€the€Directive€Principles€of€StateÐ Î ÐPolicy;€they€indicated,€however,€that€the€provisions€of€Law€42€of€the€Provisional€National€DefenceÐ · ÐCouncil€were€so€general€that€it€was€impossible€to€ascertain€whether€the€provisional€political€andÐ  ð Ðlegal€order€in€Ghana€was€in€keeping€with€that€countryððs€obligation€under€the€Convention€in€everyÐ ‰Ù Ðrespect.€€The€reporting€State€should€clarify€whether€Law€42€had€the€effect€of€doing€away€withÐ r Ðfundamental€rights€altogether.€€It€appeared€to€be€a€complete€law€in€itself,€containing€no€referencesÐ [« Ðto€which€articles€of€the€suspended€Constitution€were€in€effect.€€Section€1€(1)€of€Law€42€did€not€referÐ D” Ðto€substantive€rights.Ð -} ÐÌ155.€€With€respect€to€Law€42€of€the€Provisional€National€Defence€Council,€additional€informationÐ ÿO Ðwas€requested€on€how€the€goal€of€achieving€social€justice€was€being€translated€into€positive€actionÐ è 8 Ðand€what€the€Governmentððs€strategy€was€for€remedying€imbalances€resulting€from€earlier€socialÐ Ñ!!  Ðpatterns.€€It€was€asked€whether€the€Provisional€National€Defence€Council€had€undertaken€any€reviewÐ º" ! Ðof€provisions,€policies,€laws€and€regulations€that€might€be€regarded€as€having€given€rise€to€theÐ £#ó" Ðstructure€of€injustice€and€exploitation€referred€to€in€the€report.€€Clarifications€were€also€sought€asÐ Œ$Ü# Ðto€how€disparities€between€ethnic€groups€were€being€overcome€and€whether€Ghana€was€consideringÐ u%Å $ Ðthe€enaction€of€any€special€legislation€dealing€with€ethnic€discrimination.€€It€was€pointed€out€thatÐ ^&®!% Ðit€would€be€interesting€to€have€statistical€information€on€education,€illiteracy,€income€levels€andÐ G'—"& Ðsocial€services.€€Information€was€requested€regarding€the€criteria€used€by€the€National€CommissionÐ 0(€#' Ðfor€Democracy€in€identifying€the€real€needs€of€the€deprived€sectors€of€the€community,€the€results€ofÐ )i$( Ðthe€Commissionððs€work€and€the€special€plans€to€ensure€the€adequate€development€of€such€sectorsÐ *R%) Ðof€the€community.Ð ë*;&* ÐÌ156.€€Information€was€requested€in€relation€to€article€3€of€the€Convention€regarding€Ghanaððs€positionÐ ½, (, Ðon€òòapartheidóó.Ð ¦-ö(- Ї157.€€With€reference€to€the€implementation€of€article€4,€members€drew€attention€to€the€fact€that€theÐ ° Ðtexts€requested€by€the€Committee€relevant€to€the€implementation€of€that€article€had€not€yet€beenÐ ™é Ðprovided.€€It€was€pointed€out€that€criminal€court€decisions€were€not€sufficient€to€constituteÐ ‚Ò Ðcompliance€with€the€provisions€€of€article€4€and€that€the€1957€Avoidance€of€Discrimination€ActÐ k» Ðshowed€that€the€Government€of€Ghana€had€a€one€time€made€provision€for€the€existence€of€tribal,Ð T¤ Ðregional,€racial€or€religious€discrimination.Ð =  ÐÌ158.€€As€far€as€article€6€of€the€Convention€was€concerned,€members€wished€to€receive€informationÐ  _ Ðon€judicial€recourse€procedures€in€Ghana,€particularly€on€how€expeditious€such€procedures€were€andÐ ø H Ðwhether€€remedies€similar€to€òòhabeas€corpusóó€and€òòamparoóó€existed€in€the€country,€and€on€theÐ á 1  Ðenforcement€bodies€that€dealt€with€cases€of€alleged€discrimination€on€grounds€of€ethnic€origin.€€ItÐ Ê   Ðwas€asked€whether€such€cases€fell€within€the€purview€of€public€tribunals€or€that€of€the€judicialÐ ³  Ðsystem.€€They€also€wished€to€know€whether€any€complaints€of€alleged€discrimination€on€the€part€anyÐ œì  Ðgovernment€authority€had€been€made€under€the€Ombudsman€Act€of€1980€and€what€action€had€beenÐ …Õ  Ðtaken€and€whether€any€changes€had€been€made€in€the€countryððs€criminal€legislation€in€order€to€dealÐ n¾  Ðwith€cases€of€ethnic€discrimination.Ð W§  ÐÌ159.€€The€representative€of€Ghana€stated€that€the€Committeeððs€comments€and€questions€would€beÐ )y Ðconveyed€to€his€Government,€which€would€communicate€its€reply€in€due€course.Ð b ÐÐ  ûK Ðò òCERD€€A/43/18€(1988)ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌ149.€€The€Committee€considered€the€ninth€periodic€report€of€Ghana€(CERD/C/149/Add.13)€at€itsÐ l¼ Ð822òòndóó€and€823òòrdóó€meetings,€held€on€5€August€1988€(CERD/C/SR.822€and€SR.823).Ð U¥ ÐÌ150.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party€who,€having€recalled€thatÐ ' w Ðthe€political,€economic€and€social€evolution€of€Ghana€had€produced€legislation€and€practices€whichÐ  ` Ðdiscouraged€racism€and€racial€discrimination,€informed€the€Committee€that€his€Government€wasÐ ù I Ðcurrently€taking€measures€at€the€constitutional€level€to€establish€a€democracy€in€the€country€basedÐ â 2  Ðon€participation€by€all€members€of€the€population.€€In€particular,€the€Government€intended€to€holdÐ Ë   Ðelections€in€1988€to€choose€the€members€of€the€district€assemblies€who€would€participate€in€theÐ ´  Ðdevelopment€of€the€future€national€political€structure.€€The€establishment€of€those€district€assembliesÐ í  Ðshould€mark€the€emergence€of€a€new€political€culture€in€Ghanian€society.€€The€National€CommissionÐ †Ö  Ðfor€Democracy€was€continuing€to€gather€different€views€on€the€future€national€political€structure€and,Ð o¿  Ðin€particular,€had€taken€due€note€of€the€comments€made€by€members€of€the€Committee€concerningÐ X¨  Ðthe€provisions€of€the€Convention€which€should€be€reflected€in€the€countryððs€national€legislation.€€HeÐ A‘ Ðsaid€that€the€ninth€periodic€report€of€Ghana€was€intended€to€provide€a€useful€update€of€theÐ *z Ðinformation€communicated€in€previous€reports,€the€last€one€(CERD/C/118/Add.28)€having€beenÐ c Ðsubmitted€in€1986.Ð üL ÐÌ151.€€Members€of€the€Committee€thanked€the€Government€of€Ghana€for€its€report€and€for€theÐ Î Ðdialogue€which€it€was€continuing€to€maintain€with€the€Committee.€€At€the€same€time,€they€pointedÐ · Ðout€that€the€ninth€periodic€report€was€too€general€in€nature€and€provided€no€specific€informationÐ  ð Ðabout€the€situation€in€the€country.€€They€expressed€a€desire€for€more€specific€details€to€be€includedÐ ‰Ù Ðin€the€next€report€to€permit€an€€overall€view€of€the€situation€and€enable€comparisons€to€be€made€withÐ r Ðprevious€years,€and€requested€that€the€report€follow€the€guidelines€established€by€the€Committee.€Ð [« ÐMembers€emphasized€the€need€to€have€the€texts€of€the€laws€relevant€to€implementation€of€theÐ D” ÐConvention,€because€without€those€texts€it€was€impossible€to€know€whether€the€provisions€of€theÐ -} ÐConvention€were€effectively€incorporated€in€the€national€legislation.Ð f ÐÌ152.€€Concerning€the€implementation€of€article€2,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention,€in€view€of€the€factÐ è 8 Ðthat€various€ethnic€groups€existed€in€Ghana,€members€of€the€Committee€would€welcome€informationÐ Ñ!!  Ðabout€the€prevailing€situation€in€the€north€of€the€country.Ð º" ! ÐÌ153.€€With€regard€to€the€implementation€of€article€4€of€the€Convention,€it€was€stated€that€theÐ Œ$Ü# Ðinformation€thus€far€received€from€the€Government€did€not€appear€to€indicate€proper€implementationÐ u%Å $ Ðof€article€4€and€the€text€of€the€Criminal€Code€and€other€legislation€giving€effect€to€the€mandatoryÐ ^&®!% Ðprovisions€of€that€article€had€still€not€been€provided.Ð G'—"& ÐÌ154.€€With€regard€to€the€implementation€of€article€5€of€the€Convention,€members€sought€clarificationÐ )i$( Ðas€to€the€current€situation€concerning€the€regulations€prohibiting€the€formation€of€political€partiesÐ *R%) Ðand€the€conduct€of€political€activities€on€a€tribal,€regional,€professional,€racial€or€religious€basis.€Ð ë*;&* ÐMore€specific€information€was€requested€about€the€kinds€of€candidates€who€would€be€standing€atÐ Ô+$'+ Ðthe€next€elections,€given€that€the€political€parties€had€been€proscribed.Ð ½, (, ÐÐ ¦-ö(- Ð155.€€Information€was€also€requested€about€the€literacy€rate€in€Ghana.€€Further€details€were€soughtÐ ° Ðconcerning€the€new€programme€described€to€improve€the€employment€situation,€the€measures€takenÐ ™é Ðin€the€area€of€housing€to€eliminate€slum€dwellings€and€measures€taken€in€the€fields€of€education€andÐ ‚Ò Ðhealth.Ð k» ÐÌ156.€€The€representative€of€the€reporting€State,€having€thanked€the€members€of€the€Committee€forÐ =  Ðthe€interest€they€had€shown€in€his€countryððs€ninth€periodic€report,€stated€that€their€very€usefulÐ & v Ðcomments€would€ne€brought€to€the€attention€of€his€Government€so€that€they€would€be€taken€intoÐ  _ Ðaccount€in€the€preparation€of€the€next€periodic€report.Ð ø H ÐÌ157.€€With€regard€to€the€district€assembly€concept,€he€indicated€that€the€relevant€legislative€proposalsÐ Ê   Ðhad€not€yet€been€made€law.€€However,€the€basic€outline€of€the€new€legislation€was€already€known.€Ð ³  ÐIn€accordance€with€the€general€concept,€the€district€assemblies€were€part€of€the€GovernmentððsÐ œì  Ðstrategy€of€promoting€grass„roots€democracy€and€were€designed€to€be€the€highest€administrative€andÐ …Õ  Ðpolitical€authority€in€their€respective€areas,€with€all€local€government€institutions€subordinated€toÐ n¾  Ðthem.€€He€gave€a€detailed€description€of€the€requirements€to€be€met€by€the€candidates€for€electionÐ W§  Ðas€members€of€the€district€assemblies€and€of€the€electoral€procedure.€€The€text€of€the€new€legislationÐ @ Ðon€that€subject€would€be€made€available€to€the€Committee€once€the€law€had€been€enacted,€probablyÐ )y Ðin€time€for€inclusion€in€Ghanaððs€tenth€periodic€report.Ð b ÐÌ158.€€Turning€to€the€question€of€the€countryððs€demographic€composition,€the€representative€pointedÐ ä4 Ðout€that€his€Governmentððs€aim€had€always€been€to€ensure€that€no€one€was€discriminated€against€onÐ Í Ðthe€basis€of€ethnic€origin.€€As€for€the€relevant€statistics,€he€said€that€it€was€difficult€to€provide€theÐ ¶ Ðexact€breakdown€of€local€population€by€ethnic€group€because€the€population€census€had€beenÐ Ÿï Ðconducted€on€the€basis€of€administrative€regions.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ159.€€With€regard€to€the€status€of€different€ethnic€groups,€the€Government€of€Ghana€had€consistentlyÐ Zª Ðendeavoured€to€improve€the€situation€of€vulnerable€social€groups,€in€particular€those€living€in€theÐ C“ Ðnorthern€part€of€the€country.€€Since€independence,€free€education€had€been€provided€from€primaryÐ ,| Ðschool€to€the€university€level,€which€was€one€of€the€measures€helping€to€achieve€greater€balance€andÐ e Ðbetter€opportunities€for€all€members€of€society.Ð þN ÐÐ  ç 7 Ðò òCERD€€A/47/18€(1992)ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌ128.€€The€Committee€considered€the€tenth€and€eleventh€periodic€reports€of€GhanaÐ l¼ Ð(CERD/C/197/Add.7)€at€its€943òòrdóó,€944òòthóó€and€950òòthóó€meetings,€on€5,€6€and€11€August€1992€(seeÐ U¥ ÐCERD/C/SR.943,€944€and€950).Ð > Ž ÐÌ129.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€pointed€out€that,€sinceÐ  ` Ðthe€preparation€of€the€report,€fundamental€changes€had€taken€place€and€were€still€taking€place€inÐ ù I ÐGhana.€€He€indicated€that€Ghanaððs€population€had€been€over€14.5€million€in€1990.€€The€populationÐ â 2  Ðwas€composed€of€several€ethnic€groups€speaking€various€languages,€English€being€the€officialÐ Ë   Ðlanguage.€€The€Ghanaian€population€was€made€up€of€about€43€per€cent€Christians,€38€per€centÐ ´  Ðtraditionally€religious€persons€and€12€per€cent€Muslims.€€Ghanaððs€policy€was€to€downplay€ethnicÐ í  Ðdifferences€and€forge€national€unity€and€integration.Ð †Ö  ÐÌ130.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€also€provided€the€Committee€with€information€on€someÐ X¨  Ðrecent€developments,€stating,€for€example,€that€the€draft€Constitution€prepared€by€the€ConsultativeÐ A‘ ÐAssembly€had€been€adopted€by€referendum€on€28€April€1992.€€The€Constitution,€which€would€enterÐ *z Ðinto€force€on€7€January€1993,€contained€provisions€relating€to€the€enjoyment€without€discriminationÐ c Ðof€the€fundamental€rights€provided€for€the€Universal€Declaration€of€Human€Rights€and€theÐ üL Ðinternational€human€rights€instruments.€€A€review€process€was€now€under€way€to€bring€GhanaianÐ å5 Ðlaws€into€line€with€the€provisions€of€the€new€Constitution€and€he€quoted€those€that€guaranteed€non„Ð Î Ðdiscrimination€and€equal€treatment€for€all€citizens.€€The€ban€on€party€political€activity€had€been€liftedÐ · Ðin€May€1992€and€a€large€number€of€parties€had€been€established.€€The€Political€Parties€LawÐ  ð Ðprohibited€the€formation€of€a€political€party€on€ethnic,€regional€or€religious€grounds.€€TheÐ ‰Ù Ðrepresentative€of€the€State€party€also€indicated€that€the€National€Media€Commission€Law€hadÐ r Ðrecently€been€adopted€and€that€presidential€and€parliamentary€elections€were€due€to€be€held€inÐ [« ÐNovember€and€December€1992.€€In€addition,€the€Government€of€the€Provisional€National€DefenceÐ D” ÐCouncil€had€granted€amnesty€to€about€1,000€prisoners€in€December€1991.€€He€also€recalled€thatÐ -} ÐGhana€advocated€strong€measures€against€countries€which€practised€racial€discrimination€andÐ f Ðdemonstrated€its€opposition€to€apartheid€and€its€support€for€the€national€liberation€struggle€in€SouthÐ ÿO ÐAfrica.Ð è 8 ÐÌ131.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€thanked€the€representative€of€the€State€party€for€hisÐ º" ! Ðcooperation€and€for€the€additional€information€he€had€provided€during€his€oral€introduction.€€TheyÐ £#ó" Ðwelcomed€with€satisfaction€the€trend€towards€democratization€in€Ghana.€€They€indicated€that,€as€aÐ Œ$Ü# Ðresult€of€that€trend€and€recent€developments,€there€was€a€gap€between€the€information€provided€inÐ u%Å $ Ðthe€report€and€the€existing€situation.€€Noting€that€the€report€had€not€been€prepared€in€accordance€withÐ ^&®!% Ðthe€Committeeððs€guidelines€and€did€not€have€a€general€part€relating€to€a€social,€economic,€politicalÐ G'—"& Ðand€institutional€context€in€which€the€Convention€was€being€implemented€in€Ghana,€they€said€thatÐ 0(€#' Ðthey€would€like€to€receive€detailed€information€on€the€latest€population€census,€the€demographicÐ )i$( Ðcomposition€of€the€various€ethnic€groups,€the€different€linguistic€groups,€infant€mortality€by€ethnicÐ *R%) Ðgroup,€the€employment€situation€and€education€programmes.€€They€also€requested€information€onÐ ë*;&* Ðthe€legal€system,€legislative€provisions€relating€to€women€and€the€provisions€of€the€Constitution€onÐ Ô+$'+ Ðthe€incorporation€of€international€instruments€in€domestic€legislation.€€In€the€light€of€the€changesÐ ½, (, Ðtaking€place,€they€wanted€to€know€what€status€the€1982€Act€on€the€Proclamation€establishing€theÐ ¦-ö(- ÐProvisional€National€Defence€Council€would€have€in€future.€€They€also€asked€for€copies€of€the€textÐ ° Ðof€the€new€Constitution€and€other€laws€referred€to€in€the€report.€€€They€asked€what€the€relationshipÐ ™é Ðwas€between€the€districts€and€the€Government€of€Ghana.€€They€also€requested€information€on€recentÐ ‚Ò Ðreports€of€ethnic€conflicts€in€the€northern€part€of€the€country€in€which€persons€had€been€killed€andÐ k» Ðproperty€had€been€damaged.Ð T¤ ÐÌ132.€€With€regard€to€article€3€of€the€Convention,€the€members€of€the€Committee€noted€that,€as€farÐ & v Ðas€action€to€combat€apartheid€in€South€Africa€was€concerned,€Ghanaððs€position€had€always€been€inÐ  _ Ðconformity€with€the€spirit€and€letter€of€the€Convention.Ð ø H ÐÌ133.€€As€to€article€4€of€the€Convention,€it€was€asked€whether€the€1957€Prevention€of€DiscriminationÐ Ê   ÐAct€was€still€in€force€and€whether€the€1984€Prohibited€Organization€(Bakwu€District)€law€alsoÐ ³  Ðapplied€to€the€entire€territory.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€the€two€1957€and€1984Ð œì  Ðlaws€were€not€entirely€in€keeping€with€the€objectives€set€in€article€4€of€the€Convention€and€expressedÐ …Õ  Ðthe€hope€that,€as€part€of€its€legislative€reform,€Ghana€would€adopt€a€new€law€that€would€be€fully€inÐ n¾  Ðconformity€with€the€provisions€of€that€article.€€Referring€to€the€prohibition€of€any€association€basedÐ W§  Ðon€ethnic€or€tribal€feeling€or€of€any€party€connected€with€an€ethnic€group,€the€members€of€theÐ @ ÐCommittee€asked€whether€such€a€prohibition€might€not€be€detrimental€to€the€cultural€identity€ofÐ )y Ðvarious€ethnic€groups€and€exacerbate€ethnic€or€tribal€feelings.€Ð b ÐÌ134.€€Referring€to€article€5€of€the€Convention,€the€members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€the€MinistryÐ ä4 Ðof€Education€had€recently€announced€measures€to€have€local€language€newspapers€published€in€eachÐ Í Ðdistrict.€€They€asked€whether€the€new€Ghanaian€Constitution€guaranteed€the€exercise€of€the€right€toÐ ¶ Ðwork€and€whether€persons€brought€before€the€courts€were€entitled€to€the€assistance€of€an€interpreter,Ð Ÿï Ðif€necessary.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ135.€€Responding€to€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€the€StateÐ Zª Ðparty€stated€that€the€countryððs€statistical€regulations€did€not€permit€the€compilation€of€data€on€theÐ C“ Ðdemographic€composition€of€Ghana€and€its€linguistic€groups.€€As€to€the€infant€mortality€rate,€it€hadÐ ,| Ðdropped€significantly€during€the€last€decade.€€Concerning€the€role€of€international€treaties€in€relationÐ e Ðto€the€constitution,€he€referred€to€the€obligation€under€the€constitution€to€promote€respect€forÐ þN Ðinternational€law€and€treaty€obligations,€and€to€adhere€to€the€principles€enshrined€in€multilateralÐ ç 7 Ðinstruments.€€The€Convention,€which€had€been€incorporated€into€Ghanaian€law€in€1966,€remainedÐ Ð!   Ðvalid€under€the€new€Constitution.€€It€would€be€possible,€under€this€new€Constitution,€to€invoke€aÐ ¹" ! Ðprovision€of€the€Convention€in€the€courts€but,€where€that€provision€was€not€self„executing,€a€specificÐ ¢#ò" Ðenactment€would€be€required.€€The€judicial€system€would€remain€unchanged€under€the€newÐ ‹$Û# ÐConstitution,€consisting€of€the€higher€courts€and€such€lower€tribunals€as€Parliament€might€establish.€Ð t%Ä $ ÐAs€to€the€relationship€between€the€districts€and€the€national€political€and€legal€framework,€theÐ ]&­!% Ðrepresentative€explained€that€Ghana€was€a€centralized€State€with€10€regions€and€110€districts€whichÐ F'–"& Ðwere€decentralized€to€a€certain€degree.€Ð /(#' ÐÌ136.€€Women€were€guaranteed€equal€rights€to€training€and€promotion,€as€it€had€been€the€policy€ofÐ *Q%) Ðsuccessive€Governments€to€promote€gender€equality€in€Ghana.€€The€recent€disturbances€in€theÐ ê*:&* Ðnorthern€part€of€Ghana€had€in€fact€been€a€conflict€between€two€groups€of€people€over€land€rights.Ð Ó+#'+ ÐÌ137.€€In€reply€to€questions€concerning€article€4€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€of€the€StateÐ ¥-õ(- Ðparty€stated€that€the€Prohibited€Organization€(Bakwu€District)€law€of€1984€had€a€national€scope.€Ð ° ÐThe€provisions€of€that€law€did€not€aim€at€the€elimination€of€ethnic€differences€in€society,€but€relatedÐ ™é Ðto€groupings€with€negative€and€discriminatory€tendencies.€€Cultural€associations,€developmentÐ ‚Ò Ðsocieties€and€friendship€groups€based€on€ethnicity€were€not€prohibited,€but€indeed€encouraged.Ð k» ÐÌ138.€€With€regard€to€article€5€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€confirmed€thatÐ =  Ðcurrently€one€of€the€newspapers€was€published€in€a€local€language€and€that€there€were€plans€toÐ & v Ðpublish€three€other€local€language€newspapers.€€Referring€to€the€right€to€work,€he€stated€thatÐ  _ Ðaccording€to€the€provisions€of€chapter€5,€paragraph€24,€of€the€new€Constitution,€the€right€to€work,Ð ø H Ðto€safe€and€healthy€conditions€of€work,€and€to€equal€pay€for€equal€work€without€distinction€of€anyÐ á 1  Ðkind,€was€guaranteed.€€While€the€official€language€of€court€proceedings€was€English,€interpretationÐ Ê   Ðwas€provided€where€necessary,€since€less€than€50€per€cent€of€the€population€could€speak€EnglishÐ ³  Ðwell.Ð œì  ÐÌòòConcluding€observationsóóÐ n¾  ÐÌ139.€€The€Committee€noted€that,€as€a€result€of€the€important€political€changes€now€taking€place€inÐ @ ÐGhana,€including€the€adoption€of€a€new€Constitution€and€the€election€of€a€new€Government,€theÐ )y Ðreport€contained€in€document€CERD/C/197/Add.7€was€out€of€date.Ð b ÐÌ140.€€The€Committee€welcomed€the€announcement€by€the€representative€of€the€Government€that€theÐ ä4 Ðlegislative€measures€adopted€in€the€past€few€years€to€guarantee€the€rights€of€citizens,€regardless€ofÐ Í Ðtheir€ethnic€origin,€religion€or€sex,€continued€to€be€in€force€and€would€be€strengthened€when€revisedÐ ¶ Ðin€order€to€bring€them€into€line€with€the€principles€embodied€in€the€new€Constitution.Ð Ÿï ÐÌ141.€€The€Committee€pointed€out€that€Ghanaððs€next€report€should€be€prepared€according€to€theÐ qÁ Ðguidelines€adopted€for€the€purpose€and€should€contain€all€the€information€not€provided€in€the€lastÐ Zª Ðreport.€€The€Committee€needed€to€have€copies€of€the€new€Constitution€and€new€laws€which€had€beenÐ C“ Ðadopted€in€order€to€make€a€proper€assessment€of€the€situation€with€regard€to€the€implementation€ofÐ ,| Ðthe€Convention€in€the€country.€€It€thanked€the€Government€of€Ghana€for€the€interest€it€had€shownÐ e Ðin€maintaining€a€constructive€dialogue€with€the€Committee.Ð þN ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ ¥-õ(- Їò òÔUKCE.,ÔCERD€A/55/18€(2000)ó óÐ ° ÐÌÌ373.€à  àThe€Committee€considered€the€twelfth,€thirteenth,€fourteenth€and€fifteenth€periodic€reportsÐ l¼ Ðof€Ghana,€which€were€due€on€4€January€1992,€1994,€1996€and€1998,€respectively,€submitted€as€oneÐ U¥ Ðdocument€(CERD/C/338/Add.5),€at€its€1432nd€meeting€(CERD/C/SR.1432),€held€onÐ > Ž Ð22August2000.€€At€its€1436th€meeting€(CERD/C/SR.1436),€held€on€24òò€óóAugust2000,€it€adopted€theÐ ' w Ðfollowing€concluding€observations.Ð  ` ÐÌ1.€€òòIntroductionóóÐ â 2  ÐÌ374.€à  àThe€Committee€notes€the€reports€submitted€by€the€State€party,€while€regretting€the€lateÐ ´  Ðsubmission€of€the€twelfth,€thirteenth€and€fourteenth€periodic€reports,€and€expresses€its€appreciationÐ í  Ðfor€the€additional€oral€information€provided€by€the€delegation.€€The€report€was€not€adequatelyÐ †Ö  Ðprepared€in€accordance€with€the€Committeeððs€guidelines€for€the€preparation€of€States€partiesððÐ o¿  Ðreports.€Ð X¨  ÐÌ375.€à  àThe€Committee€notes€that€the€report€does€not€contain€information€on€implementation€of€mostÐ *z Ðof€the€concerns€and€recommendations€expressed€by€the€Committee€in€the€concluding€observationsÐ c Ðon€the€eleventh€periodic€report€(A/47/18,€paras.€128„141).€Ð üL ÐÌ2.€€òòPositive€aspectsóóÐ Î ÐÌ376.€à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€State€partyððs€policy€of€preventing€the€exploitationÐ  ð Ðof€ethnic€differences€and€commends€the€State€party€for€the€degree€to€which€its€population€of€moreÐ ‰Ù Ðthan€50€ethnic€groups€has€avoided€serious,€prolonged€conflict.Ð r ÐÌ377.€à  àThe€Committee€notes€that€article€17€of€the€1992€Constitution€guarantees€equality€before€theÐ D” Ðlaw€and€prohibits€discrimination€on€the€basis€of€ð ðgender,€race,€colour,€ethnic€origin,€religion,€creedÐ -} Ðor€social€and€economic€statusðð.€€It€notes€with€interest€the€definition€of€discrimination€provided€underÐ f Ðarticle€17,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Constitution€as€treatment€resulting€ð ðin€disabilities€or€restrictions€onÐ ÿO Ðsome€persons€which€are€not€imposed€on€others€or€resulting€in€privileges€or€advantages€for€someÐ è 8 Ðpersons€which€are€not€afforded€to€othersðð.€Ð Ñ!!  ÐÌ378.€à  àThe€Committee€welcomes€the€establishment€in€1993€of€the€Commission€on€Human€RightsÐ £#ó" Ðand€Administrative€Justice€to€protect€human€rights,€particularly€the€right€to€be€protected€from€racialÐ Œ$Ü# Ðdiscrimination.€€The€Committee€takes€note€of€the€capacity€of€the€Commission€to€investigateÐ u%Å $ Ðviolations€of€fundamental€rights€and€freedoms€following€a€complaint€or€on€its€own€initiative,€as€wellÐ ^&®!% Ðas€the€binding€nature€of€its€decisions€on€the€parties.€€The€Committee€notes€also€the€establishment€ofÐ G'—"& Ðthe€National€Commission€for€Civic€Education€and€welcomes€its€activities€in€the€field€of€humanÐ 0(€#' Ðrights€education€and€training.Ð )i$( ÐÌ379.€à  àThe€Committee€commends€the€State€party€for€adopting€measures€that€outlaw€the€practice€ofÐ ë*;&* Ðslavery€known€as€ð ðTrokosiðð,€which€affects€solely€females€in€the€Ewe€ethnic€group,€and€encouragesÐ Ô+$'+ Ðthe€State€party€to€strictly€enforce€the€criminal€sanctions€for€violations.Ð ½, (, ÐÔ_ÔÐ ¦-ö(- Ð3.€€òòConcerns€and€recommendationsóóÐ ° ÐÌ380.€à  àThe€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€detailed€information€regarding€the€implementationÐ ‚Ò Ðof€constitutional€guarantees€against€racial€discrimination,€the€legal€status€of€the€Convention€underÐ k» ÐGhanaian€law,€and€the€extent€to€which€existing€legislation€is€sufficient€to€ensure€the€implementationÐ T¤ Ðof€articles€2€through€6€of€the€Convention.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€conductÐ =  Ða€detailed€review€of€relevant€legislation€to€ensure€that€it€implements€fully€the€provisions€of€theÐ & v ÐConvention€and€that€the€State€party€include€in€its€next€report€detailed€information€in€this€respect.Ð  _ ÐÌ381.€à  àThe€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€there€are€continuing€tensions€between€ethnic€groupsÐ á 1  Ðin€the€northern€region€of€Ghana€and€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€immediate€and€effectiveÐ Ê   Ðsteps€to€address€the€root€causes€of€these€tensions.Ð ³  ÐÌ382.€à  àIn€this€context,€the€Committee€takes€note€of€information€concerning€the€existence€of€aÐ …Õ  ÐPermanent€Peace€Negotiating€Team€set€up€to€mediate€and€seek€peaceful€settlement€of€conflicts€thatÐ n¾  Ðarise€among€different€ethnic€groups,€particularly€those€based€on€disagreements€regarding€Ô_ÔchieftancyÔ_Ô,Ð W§  Ðsuccession€and€land€title€issues,€while€regretting€the€lack€of€detailed€information€with€regard€to€itsÐ @ Ðfunctioning,€mandate€and€composition.€€The€Committee€requests€that€the€State€party€provide€suchÐ )y Ðinformation€in€its€next€report.Ð b ÐÌ383.€à  àThe€Committee€notes€the€lack€of€detailed€information€provided€about€the€work€of€theÐ ä4 ÐCommission€on€Human€Rights€and€Administrative€Justice€and€the€Commissionððs€handling€of€casesÐ Í Ðregarding€racial€discrimination.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€provide€in€its€nextÐ ¶ Ðreport€information€on€any€complaints€handled€by€the€Commission€that€may€have€addressed€instancesÐ Ÿï Ðof€racial€discrimination.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ384.€à  àThe€Committee€regrets€the€lack€of€information€in€the€report€concerning€the€demographicÐ Zª Ðcomposition€of€the€country.€€The€Committee€recalls€that€it€drew€attention€to€this€issue€in€its€lastÐ C“ Ðconcluding€observations.€€In€accordance€with€paragraphs€8€and€9€of€its€guidelines€on€the€form€andÐ ,| Ðcontent€of€States€partiesðð€reports,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€provide€theÐ e ÐCommittee€in€its€next€report€with€statistical€data€regarding€Ô_ÔsocioÔ_Ô„economic€status,€participation€inÐ þN Ðpublic€life€and€other€relevant€information€concerning€different€ethnic€groups.€Ð ç 7 ÐÌ385.€à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€partyððs€reports€be€made€readily€available€to€theÐ ¹" ! Ðpublic€from€the€time€they€are€submitted€and€that€the€Committeeððs€concluding€observations€on€themÐ ¢#ò" Ðbe€similarly€publicized.€Ð ‹$Û# ÐÌ386.€à  àIt€is€noted€that€the€State€party€has€not€made€the€declaration€provided€for€in€article€14€of€theÐ ]&­!% ÐConvention,€and€some€members€of€the€Committee€request€that€the€possibility€of€such€a€declarationÐ F'–"& Ðbe€considered.Ð /(#' ÐÌ387.€à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€ratify€the€amendments€to€article€8,Ð *Q%) Ðparagraph€6,€of€the€Convention,€adopted€on€15€January€1992€at€the€Fourteenth€Meeting€of€the€StatesÐ ê*:&* ÐParties€to€the€Convention.Ð Ó+#'+ ÐÌ388.€à  àThe€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€partyððs€next€periodic€report€be€a€comprehensiveÐ ¥-õ(- Ðreport€and€that€it€address€all€the€points€raised€in€the€present€concluding€observations.Ð ° ÐÔCE.,UK., ÂÔÌÐ  ‚Ò ÐÌò òÔ_ÔCERDÔ_Ô€€A/58/18€(2003)ó óÐ ™é ÐÓ‡ %$$$$$$$$$(ÿÿ83ÓÌ103.€€The€Committee€considered€the€sixteenth€and€seventeenth€periodic€reports€of€Ghana,€whichÐ l¼ Ðwere€due€on€4€January€2000€and€2002,€respectively,€and€were€submitted€as€one€documentÐ U¥ Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/431/Add.3),€at€its€1574th€and€1575th€meetings€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/SR.1574€andÐ > Ž ÐÔ_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/SR.1575),€held€on€17€and€18€March€2003.€€At€its€1581st€meeting€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/SR.1581),€heldÐ ' w Ðon21€March,€it€adopted€the€following€concluding€observations.Ð  ` ÐÌA.€€òòIntroductionóóÐ â 2  ÐÌ104.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€detailed€report€submitted€by€the€State€party€and€appreciates€thatÐ ´  Ðthe€high„level€delegation€of€the€State€party€included€a€member€of€the€Commission€for€Human€RightsÐ í  Ðand€Administrative€Justice€(Ô_ÔCHRAJÔ_Ô)€of€Ghana.€€It€commends€the€delegation€for€providing€theÐ †Ö  ÐCommittee€with€comprehensive€additional€information.Ð o¿  ÐÌB.€€òòFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionóóÐ A‘ ÐÌ105.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€insufficient€education€infrastructure,€the€high€illiteracy€rates€inÐ c Ðcertain€areas€in€Ghana,€as€well€as€the€existence€of€some€negative€traditional€practices€constituteÐ üL Ðimpediments€to€the€full€implementation€of€the€Convention.€Ð å5 ÐÌC.€€òòPositive€aspectsóóÐ · ÐÌ106.€€The€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€quality€of€the€report€and€the€frankness€andÐ ‰Ù Ðopenness€with€which€the€State€party€has€dealt€with€the€situation€in€Ghana€relevant€to€the€Convention.€Ð r ÐÌ107.€€The€Committee€appreciates€the€approach€adopted€by€the€State€party€that€seeks€to€respect€theÐ D” Ðcustoms€and€traditions€of€various€ethnic€groups€on€its€territory,€while€at€the€same€time€enhancingÐ -} Ðthe€enjoyment€of€human€rights€for€all.€€It€further€notes€that,€under€article€26€of€the€Constitution,Ð f Ðwhich€protects€cultural€rights,€customary€practices€which€dehumanize€or€are€injurious€to€the€physicalÐ ÿO Ðand€mental€well„being€of€a€person€are€prohibited.€Ð è 8 ÐÌ108.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€important€role€played€by€the€Ô_ÔCHRAJÔ_Ô€in€theÐ º" ! Ðprotection€of€human€rights,€particularly€the€right€to€be€protected€from€racial€discrimination€andÐ £#ó" Ðintolerance,€as€well€as€the€activities€carried€out€in€the€field€of€human€rights€education€and€toleranceÐ Œ$Ü# Ðby€both€the€Ô_ÔCHRAJÔ_Ô€and€the€National€Commission€for€Civic€Education€(Ô_ÔNCCEÔ_Ô).€€The€decentralizedÐ u%Å $ Ðset„up€of€the€Ô_ÔCHRAJÔ_Ô€and€its€ongoing€cooperation€with€civil€society€are€noted€with€satisfaction;€theÐ ^&®!% ÐCommittee€considers€that€these€are€good€ways€to€reach€out€to€people€and€to€secure€betterÐ G'—"& Ðimplementation€of€the€Convention.Ð 0(€#' ÐÌ109.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€ongoing€process€of€elaboration€of€a€national€plan€of€action€toÐ *R%) Ðcombat€racism€and€the€involvement€of€non„governmental€organizations€in€this€regard.€€Ð ë*;&* ÐÌ110.€€The€Committee€appreciates€the€assurance€given€by€the€delegation€that€the€Government€ofÐ ½, (, ÐGhana€will€give€serious€consideration€to€the€possibility€of€making€the€declaration€provided€for€inÐ ¦-ö(- Ðarticle€14,€as€well€as€to€the€ratification€of€the€amendments€to€article€8,€paragraph€6,€of€theÐ ° ÐConvention.€€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€refers€to€General€Assembly€resolution€57/194€of18Ð ™é ÐDecember€2002€in€which€the€Assembly€strongly€urged€States€parties€to€accelerate€their€domesticÐ ‚Ò Ðratification€procedures€with€regard€to€the€amendment€and€to€notify€the€Secretary-GeneralÐ k» Ðexpeditiously€in€writing€of€their€agreement€to€the€amendment.Ð T¤ ÐÌD.€€òòConcerns€and€recommendationsóóÐ & v ÐÌ111.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€existence€of€ethnic€discrimination€persists€as€anÐ ø H Ðundercurrent€in€Ghanaian€society€and€that,€according€to€a€1997€survey,€25€per€cent€of€respondentsÐ á 1  Ðfelt€discriminated€against€due€to€their€tribal€origins.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€high€priorityÐ Ê   Ðbe€given€to€the€eradication€of€discriminatory€practices€and€racial€prejudices€in€Ghana,€through€theÐ ³  Ðstrengthening€of€education€in€general€and€of€human€rights€education€programmes€in€particular,€theÐ œì  ÐÔ_ÔcriminalizationÔ_Ô€of€acts€of€racial€discrimination€and€effective€punishment.Ð …Õ  ÐÌ112.€€The€Committee€is€particularly€concerned€about€the€occurrence€of€sporadic€violent€ethnicÐ W§  Ðconflicts€in€Ghana€and€welcomes€the€efforts€undertaken€by€the€State€party€in€this€regard.€€It€notes,Ð @ Ðin€particular,€the€role€of€traditional€and€religious€leaders€in€the€resolution€of€conflicts€relating€to€landÐ )y Ðand€chieftaincy€or€involving€customary€law.€€The€Committee€requests€the€Stateparty€to€include,€inÐ b Ðits€next€periodic€report,€more€information€on€the€roots€of€such€conflicts,€on€the€kinds€of€settlementsÐ ûK Ðgenerally€reached€and€on€the€concrete€measures€adopted€to€prevent€their€recurrence.€€It€also€requestsÐ ä4 Ðfurther€information€on€how€the€District€and€Regional€Security€Councils€operate€in€practice.Ð Í ÐÌ113.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€about€the€existence€of€certain€negative€traditionalÐ Ÿï Ðpractices€that,€according€to€the€report,€discriminate€against€people€on€racial€or€ethnic€grounds,€inÐ ˆØ Ðparticular€in€cases€of€interracial€or€inter„ethnic€marriages.€€The€Committee€wishes€to€receiveÐ qÁ Ðinformation€on€the€measures€adopted€to€eradicate€such€practices.Ð Zª ÐÌ114.€€While€noting€the€legislative€and€other€measures€adopted€to€eradicate€practices€that€are€harmfulÐ ,| Ðto€the€health€and€dignity€of€women,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that€some€practices,€in€particularÐ e Ðfemale€genital€mutilation,€degrading€treatment€of€widows€and€the€Ô_ÔTrokosiÔ_Ô€system,€Ð þN Ðstill€occur,€and€wishes€to€be€further€informed€of€their€ethnic€dimensions.€€The€Committee€encouragesÐ ç 7 Ðthe€State€party€to€continue€its€efforts€in€this€field€and€refers€the€State€party€to€its€generalÐ Ð!   Ðrecommendation€XXV€(56)€of€20€March€2000€on€gender„related€dimensions€of€racial€discrimination.Ð ¹" ! ÐÌ115.€€The€Committee€notes€the€existence€of€legal€pluralism€in€Ghana€and€wishes€to€receive€moreÐ ‹$Û# Ðdetailed€information€on€the€application€of€customary€law€in€the€country,€as€well€as€on€the€balanceÐ t%Ä $ Ðgenerally€achieved€in€practice€between€statutory€law,€common€law€and€customary€law.Ð ]&­!% ÐÌ116.€€Noting€the€task€given€to€the€National€House€of€Chiefs€to€undertake€an€evaluation€of€traditionalÐ /(#' Ðcustoms€and€practices€with€a€view€to€eliminating€those€which€are€socially€harmful,€the€CommitteeÐ )h$( Ðwishes€to€receive€further€information€on€the€results€of€the€activities€undertaken€by€this€institutionÐ *Q%) Ðas€well€as€on€the€difficulties€encountered.Ð ê*:&* ÐÌ117.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€frankness€with€which€the€State€party€has€stated€that€the€existingÐ ¼, (, Ðlegislation€does€not€meet€the€requirements€of€article€4,€paragraphs€(a),€(b)€and€Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô),€of€the€Convention.€Ð ¥-õ(- ÐThe€Committee€notes€that€the€Criminal€Code€is€currently€being€reviewed€and€revised,€andÐ ° Ðencourages€the€State€party€to€accelerate€this€process€and€to€ensure€that€the€new€legislation€willÐ ™é Ðcomply€fully€with€article€4.€€The€Committee€also€requests€that€information€on€the€content€of€the€newÐ ‚Ò Ðlegislation€as€well€as€on€the€results€of€its€implementation€be€included€in€the€next€periodic€report.Ð k» ÐÌ118.€€The€Committee€notes€that,€out€of€a€total€of€9,265€complaints€heard€by€the€Commission€in2000,Ð =  Ðthe€Ô_ÔCHRAJÔ_Ô€only€dealt€with€fewer€than€five€complaints€directly€relating€to€alleged€racialÐ & v Ðdiscrimination.€€According€to€the€State€party,€the€majority€of€the€complaints€received€by€theÐ  _ ÐCommission€were€cases€of€religious€discrimination€which,€because€religion€in€Ghana€is€often€relatedÐ ø H Ðto€ethnicity,€could€be€classified,€in€some€cases,€as€indirect€racial€discrimination.€€The€CommitteeÐ á 1  Ðwould€like€to€receive€more€detailed€information€on€this€matter,€as€well€as€statistical€informationÐ Ê   Ðrelating€to€the€number€of€complaints€having€a€bearing€on€racial€discrimination,€and€the€action€takenÐ ³  Ðby€the€Commission.€Ð œì  ÐÌ119.€€The€Committee€would€like€to€receive€further€information€on€the€mandate€of€and€activitiesÐ n¾  Ðundertaken€by€the€National€Reconciliation€Commission,€as€well€as€on€the€results€achieved.Ð W§  ÐÌ120.€€The€State€partyððs€report€did€not€include€sufficient€information€relating€to€the€practicalÐ )y Ðimplementation€of€article€5€of€the€Convention.€€The€Committee€requests€that€such€information€beÐ b Ðincluded€in€the€next€periodic€report,€in€accordance€with€the€Committeeððs€reporting€guidelines€andÐ ûK Ðtaking€into€account€its€general€recommendation€XX€(48)€of€8€March€1996€on€article€5.Ð ä4 ÐÌ121.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€existing€educational€gap€between€populations€of€certainÐ ¶ Ðgeographic€areas€of€the€country,€which€has€an€ethnic€dimension.€€The€Committee€encourages€theÐ Ÿï ÐGhanaian€authorities€to€pursue€and€increase€the€efforts€already€undertaken€to€remedy€this€situation.€Ð ˆØ ÐIt€would€like€to€receive,€in€the€next€periodic€report,€information€on€the€results€of€the€NorthernÐ qÁ ÐScholarship€Scheme,€as€well€as€on€the€criteria€for€selecting€the€beneficiaries.€Ð Zª ÐÌ122.€€The€Committee€wishes€to€receive€more€information€on€the€legal€status€of€native€languages€inÐ ,| ÐGhana€and€to€know€whether€the€State€party€supports€them€through€various€programmes€in€the€fieldÐ e Ðof€education,€the€media,€and€in€the€administration.Ð þN ÐÌ123.€€While€welcoming€the€efforts€undertaken€by€the€State€party€to€include€all€ethnic€groups€inÐ Ð!   Ðdecision„making€processes€in€matters€concerning€them,€the€Committee€wishes€to€receive€moreÐ ¹" ! Ðinformation€about€the€measures€adopted€to€this€effect,€as€well€as€on€the€results€achieved.Ð ¢#ò" ÐÌ124.€€The€Committee€wishes€to€know€whether€descent„based€discrimination€exists€in€Ghana,€andÐ t%Ä $ Ðdraws€the€attention€of€the€State€party€to€its€general€recommendation€XXIX€on€the€matter.Ð ]&­!% ÐÌ125.€€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€consult€with€organizations€of€civil€societyÐ /(#' Ðworking€to€combat€racial€discrimination€during€the€preparation€of€the€next€periodic€report.òò€óóÐ )h$( ÐÌ126.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€into€account€the€relevant€parts€of€theÐ ê*:&* ÐDurban€Declaration€and€Programme€of€Action€when€implementing€the€Convention€in€the€domesticÐ Ó+#'+ Ðlegal€order,€in€particular€in€respect€of€articles€2€to€7€of€the€Convention,€and€that€it€include€in€its€nextÐ ¼, (, Ðperiodic€report€information€on€action€plans€or€other€measures€taken€to€implement€the€DurbanÐ ¥-õ(- ÐDeclaration€and€Programme€of€Action€at€the€national€level.€€The€Committee€wishes€to€be€informedÐ ° Ðabout€the€adoption€and€the€content€of€the€national€plan€of€action€to€combat€racism€which€is€currentlyÐ ™é Ðunder€consideration.Ð ‚Ò ÐÌ127.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€partyððs€reports€be€made€readily€available€to€theÐ T¤ Ðpublic€from€the€time€they€are€submitted€to€the€United€Nations€and€that€the€observations€of€theÐ =  ÐCommittee€on€these€reports€be€similarly€publicized.Ð & v ÐÌ128.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€submit€its€eighteenth€periodic€report€jointlyÐ ø H Ðwith€its€nineteenth€periodic€report,€due€on€4€January€2006,€and€that€it€address€all€points€raised€in€theÐ á 1  Ðpresent€concluding€observations.Ð Ê   ÐÓ…† (#38%$$$$$$$$$(á…Ó