A Workshop on Human Rights for Traditional Rulers in the Northern Region is underway in Tamale. The four-day workshop is being organised by the Ghana branch of the International Federation of women Lawyers, FIDA and sponsored by the United States Embassy in Accra. Topics being discussed include Human Rights under the Constitution, Marriage Laws, Maintenance of Children, Intestate succession, and the property rights of spouses. Speaking at the opening ceremony, a Member of the Council of State and National President of FIDA, Ghana, Mrs. Victoria Addy, said since its inception in 1968, the organisation has been initiating and sponsoring the review of laws and traditional practices which negate the development, aspirations and well-being of women and children. It has also been engaged in legal aid, legal literacy and human rights awareness programmes, Mrs. Addy noted that even though the constitution contains full range of human rights provisions, their impact is not being fully felt by most Ghanaians because both the abused and abusers do not have adequate knowledge of those rights and the appropriate channels through which they can seek redress. She disclosed that FIDA-Ghana has reduced a number of laws into very simple English and is also to translate them into Akan, Dagbani, Ewe and Ga to make them easily accessible to all Ghanaians. The Chief of Yunyoo, Yunyoo-rana Dawuda Yamyia Tooka who chaired the opening ceremony noted that it is vulnerable groups like women and children who usually suffer most from human rights abuses, He commended FIDA – Ghana for giving traditional rulers the chance to interact with it and learn more about what they can do to help improve the human rights situation in their communities. gri
