CHRAJ refused to comment on allegation of witch hunting - and Newmont's shaming Award
Gilbert Boyefio
09/02/09
The Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Richard Ackon Quayson, has refused to comment on allegation of witch hunting by Grace Omaboe popularly known as Maame Dokonu, a popular actress and gender activist, and also the shaming award given to Newmont Mining for their activity in the Eastern Region by the Public Eye Awards.
According to him, “it is the policy of the Commission to know the full facts or details of a matter before commenting on it” and as such could not comment on the Maame Dokono matter. He further explained that the matter is still under investigation by the police.
The Deputy Commissioner however pointed out that he took it upon himself to contact the Regional Commander of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit to find out what transpired. To him, “if what she [the Regional Commander] told me was the truth then there is nothing indicating witch hunting.”
He told this reporter that he has not contacted Maame Dokono on the matter and neither has Maame Dokono nor any one petition the Commission regarding the incidence.
The Peace and Love Orphanage run by Maame Dokono was on Thursday closed down by the Social Welfare Department after an eight year old boy allegedly sodomised a six month old baby. DOVVSU officials claims that the action was meant to protect the inmates of the orphanage. It had also been alleged that the license of the orphanage expired in March 2006 and had since not been renewed.
However, Maame Dokono has denied the allegations leveled against her describing it as a witch hunting. She suspects her ordeal is politically motivated. Maame Dokono, who was once a member of the NDC cross carpet to the then ruling NPP which lost the last election.
On the Newmont Mining shaming award, Mr Quayson emphasized that “it is not the position of the Commission to comment on other people’s work; unless it undermines human rights. He said the Commission “would only comment on the work of people that it has work closely with before and can vouch for their credibility.”
Newmont Mining, the world’s largest gold producer was criticized for its scandalous gold mining project in Eastern Ghana by the Public Eye Awards. Newmont Mining wins two awards at once: by presenting Newmont with the Global Award and the People"s Award respectively, the expert jury and the internet community appeared in complete agreement on the company’s wrongdoing.
Last year, a comprehensive report on the state of human right in mining communities compiled by CHRAJ show that there is evidence of widespread violations of human rights of individual members of communities and communities’ collective rights in some mining areas in Ghana. The report found evidence to conclude that there had been widespread pollution in communities’ water sources, deprivation and loss of livelihood. Several examples of excesses by the security agencies and security contractors of the mining companies were provided and documented.
09/02/09
The Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Richard Ackon Quayson, has refused to comment on allegation of witch hunting by Grace Omaboe popularly known as Maame Dokonu, a popular actress and gender activist, and also the shaming award given to Newmont Mining for their activity in the Eastern Region by the Public Eye Awards.
According to him, “it is the policy of the Commission to know the full facts or details of a matter before commenting on it” and as such could not comment on the Maame Dokono matter. He further explained that the matter is still under investigation by the police.
The Deputy Commissioner however pointed out that he took it upon himself to contact the Regional Commander of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit to find out what transpired. To him, “if what she [the Regional Commander] told me was the truth then there is nothing indicating witch hunting.”
He told this reporter that he has not contacted Maame Dokono on the matter and neither has Maame Dokono nor any one petition the Commission regarding the incidence.
The Peace and Love Orphanage run by Maame Dokono was on Thursday closed down by the Social Welfare Department after an eight year old boy allegedly sodomised a six month old baby. DOVVSU officials claims that the action was meant to protect the inmates of the orphanage. It had also been alleged that the license of the orphanage expired in March 2006 and had since not been renewed.
However, Maame Dokono has denied the allegations leveled against her describing it as a witch hunting. She suspects her ordeal is politically motivated. Maame Dokono, who was once a member of the NDC cross carpet to the then ruling NPP which lost the last election.
On the Newmont Mining shaming award, Mr Quayson emphasized that “it is not the position of the Commission to comment on other people’s work; unless it undermines human rights. He said the Commission “would only comment on the work of people that it has work closely with before and can vouch for their credibility.”
Newmont Mining, the world’s largest gold producer was criticized for its scandalous gold mining project in Eastern Ghana by the Public Eye Awards. Newmont Mining wins two awards at once: by presenting Newmont with the Global Award and the People"s Award respectively, the expert jury and the internet community appeared in complete agreement on the company’s wrongdoing.
Last year, a comprehensive report on the state of human right in mining communities compiled by CHRAJ show that there is evidence of widespread violations of human rights of individual members of communities and communities’ collective rights in some mining areas in Ghana. The report found evidence to conclude that there had been widespread pollution in communities’ water sources, deprivation and loss of livelihood. Several examples of excesses by the security agencies and security contractors of the mining companies were provided and documented.
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