Amnesty International (AI) Ghana has condemned the flogging of two adults at Wa Naa Palace on a viral sex video leaked on social media.
The group described the action as a clear sign of mob injustice, jungle-justice and demeaning of the dignity of the two people contrary to the laws of Ghana.
“This act of taking the law into our own hands should not be happening in Ghana, where our 1992 Constitution is very clear in Chapter 5 Article 15 (I & 2) that; “The dignity of all persons shall be inviolable and no person shall, whether or not he is arrested, restricted or detained, be subjected to (a) torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or (b) any other condition that detracts or is likely to detract from his or her dignity and worth as a human being.” The Group stated
Further, the 1992 Constitution states in Article 19 (2) that; “A person charged with a criminal offence shall – (c) be presumed to be innocent until he or she is proved or has pleaded guilty.”
There is no justification whatsoever, for such an act of flogging or beating suspects not even on cultural or religious ground. Anyone who engages in such an act must be punished.
These acts, if not checked, go to tarnish the human rights records of the country – Ghana.
“We strongly call on the Inspector General of Police to use the images in the video to trace, arrest and prosecute all those who approved, condoned and participated in the cruel act in clear violation of the fundamental rights of the two people to serve as a deterrent to others who may consider such acts in future.
The human rights defender says it has taken notice of a video recording, making rounds on social media and other online portals of two alleged lovers flogged in public at the forecourt of WA Naa’s Palace for engaging in a sexual act captured on a viral video.
When the viral video first broke out, a spokesperson for the Wa Naa’s Palace disassociated themselves from the barbaric act but in a sharp U-turn accepted the blame for ordering the flogging.
