NCCE & CHRAJ Failing Ghanaians-On Civic Education and Human Rights – Prof. Ken Attafuah Cries

The acting Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), is asking the Commission on Human Right and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) to stop sleeping on the job of educating citizens on their fundamental human rights and their responsibilities.

Prof. Kenneth Agyeman Attafuah, onetime Deputy Commissioner at CHRAJ, suggested that currently, human rights and dignity was being trampled upon, due to the failures of the two institutions.

The criminologist cum lawyer, is worried in the wake of the gang-rape of a teenage girl at Bantaman in the Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region by seven teenagers boys withheld.

Following the arrests of three of the four suspects, Prof. Attafuah, took to his social media platform; Tweeter, to remind the two bodies; CHRAJ and NCCE of their responsibilities in instilling discipline and respect for the rule of law.

Prof. Attafuah wrote, “CHRAJ & NCCE must wake up to their duty to expand the scale of respect for human dignity and rights and for the rule of law”.

In his view, it is because these institutions have failed on their duties and responsibilities that is why human rights abuses of different kinds are on the ascendancy in the country.

However, his call though not necessarily bad, has been received by a section of social media users as amounting to double standards.

They say, he should be the last person to speak for anybody on human rights abuses, having harshly ousted an employee of the NIA, a few days ago, without any just cause.

Prof. Attafuah’s tweet which was later mockingly shared by many, including a former Deputy Minister of Information and Presidential Staffer, James Agyenim-Boateng, was seen as pretentious.

He was accused of after equally trampling upon an IT specialist, Wisdom Kweku Yayra Deku for criticizing the Akufo-Addo government over his handling of certain national issues.

Prof. Attafuah, in a letter personally written to Mr. Deku, directed him to vacate his post and handover all documents in his possession to the Acting Head of the Technology and Biometric Department.

“I write to inform you that the National Identification Authority (NIA) has decided to terminate your employment with immediate effect. You are entitled to one (1) month’s salary in view of notice as stipulated in the letter confirming your employment,” he stated.

The sack letter further reminded him to abide by the oath of secrecy in the organization and not reveal any information he may be privy to by virtue of his position in the organization to the general public.

“Please refer to the Oath of Secrecy on Taking Office, and be reminded that you are not permitted to directly or indirectly, without due authority disclose or make known any matter or information acquired by you in the course of your employment with the NIA,” he added.

No reason was given for sacking the IT specialist at the NIA, but many have linked it to Mr. Deku’s constant criticism of government on his Facebook wall.

Others who commented on Prof. Attafuah’s tweet were worried why Prof. Attafuah has found his voice all of a sudden after many attacks have been visited on innocent Ghanaians courtesy the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) militant groups, like the Invisible Forces, Delta Forces.

They were equally worried about his silence on attack on the court in Kumasi, the threat on a judge and the freeing of NPP thugs who had physically abused the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Agyei and denied him his right to earn a living.

They were surprised Prof. Attafuah an astute lawyer and law lecturer, sat down in the wake of that criminal act by the untouchable Delta Forces, while they visited mayhem on a court leading to the presiding judge, running away to save her life.

Others outside social media, have also questioned the whereabouts of Prof. Attafuah, when ASP Nanka–Bruce, was attacked at the Flagstaff House in January by the NPP Invisible Forces and also abusing his pregnant wife.

The thugs, inside the seat of Government, were captured on video tape, pouncing on the senior police officer and pummeling him and then dispossessing him of his official car.