In a demonstration against the Representation of the People Amendment Bill (ROPAB), legislation that would allow Ghanaians living abroad to vote in general elections, an opposition spokesman indicated that several opposition members "who were not responsible for the protest" were arrested (VOA 23 Feb. 2006). The National Democratic Congress (NDC) alleged that the police had committed "acts of brutality" against the protestors (Radio Ghana 23 Feb. 2006). However, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005 stated that, unlike in 2004, there were no reports of political killings, politically motivated disappearances, nor police beating political party activists in 2005 (US 8 Mar. 2006, Sec. 1a-c).

An associate professor in the Department of Anthropology of Indiana University provided the information in the following paragraph to the Research Directorate in correspondence dated 19 August 2006. The Associate Professor stated that "[t]here can be no doubt ... that political dissidents under Rawlings [1982-2000] were certainly abused." However, the Associate Professor added that, to her knowledge, "persecution" of political dissidents was no longer occurring in Ghana under the current regime.

The information in the following paragraph was provided by a research fellow who is also the Coordinator of the History and Politics Section of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana in correspondence dated 4 September 2006:

By and large, the treatment of political dissidents or members of opposition and their families in Ghana today has improved noticeably. This is a departure from the past when political dissidents in Ghana were badly treated. It is increasingly becoming difficult, if not impossible, to mobilize violence to brutalize sections of society who peacefully oppose the regime and it policies. Citizens are not only enfranchized, but are free to demonstrate, without police permit, against state and government policies. And the last year has witnessed many such public demonstrations by members of the opposition, which were free and without government reprisal. ...

These positive developments notwithstanding, there have been certain disquieting developments, which seem to suggest that, Ghana, whilst not yet a "failed state", is incapable of providing protection for some of her citizens. For instance, before the 2004 presidential and parliamentary elections, the Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention Peoples' Party, Mr. Mobilla, died inexplicably in police custody. Before that incident, the Ya-Na, the prominent Dagon King and forty of his elders were murdered in factional fighting in Yendi, Northern Ghana. ... The week before last [in August 2006], Rojo Mettle Nunoo, the campaign manager for opposition candidate Professor Mills, in the 2004 presidential elections claimed that some unidentified callers had threatened to "kill' him after he had openly criticized the current Ghanaian president, describing him as "unintelligent and irresponsible".

These developments seem suggest that a degree of intolerance exists side-by-side the liberal democratic process underway since 1992.

The Director of the Centre of African Studies at the University of Edinburgh stated in correspondence with the Research Directorate dated 7 September 2006 that "Ghana does not presently have anything that one could call political dissidents/exiles. It is a functioning democracy and the security services have been pretty respectful of the Constitution."

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology of Indiana University. 19 August 2006. Correspondence.

Director of the Centre of African Studies at the University of Edinburgh. 7 September 2006. Correspondence.

Radio Ghana. 23 February 2006. "Ghanaian Main Opposition Party Condemns Police Brutality on Protestors." (BBC Monitoring/Factiva)

Research Fellow and Coordinator of the History and Politics Section of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana. 4 September 2006. Correspondence.

United States. 8 March 2006. Department of State. "Ghana." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61572.htm [Accessed 15 Aug. 2006]

Voice of America (VOA). 23 February 2006. Peter Clottey. "Ghana Opposition Criticizes Arrest of Protesters." http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-02/2006-02-23-voa49.cfm?renderforprint=1&pageid=221082 [Accessed 15 Aug. 2006]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: A professor from the University of Edinburgh, a professor from Ohio University, an associate professor from Indiana University and the Director of the Institute of African Studies of the University of Ghana did not provide information within the time constraints.

A professor from London Metropolitan University did not have information on the subject.

Internet sites, including: Accra Daily Mail, Africa Confidential [London], African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, AllAfrica.com, Amnesty International, British Broadcasting Corporation, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, European Country of Origin Information Network, Factiva, Freedom House, Ghana Review International [Accra], GhanaHomePage, The Ghanaian Chronicle [Accra], Human Rights Watch, Integrated Regional Information Networks, Jeuneafrique.com, Leftist Parties of the World, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Republic of Ghana, United Kingdom Home Office Country Information, West Africa Review.