United Nations
CAT/C/GHA/CO/1
Distr.: General
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment
15 June 2011
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Forty- sixth session
9 May-3 June 2011
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 19 of the
Convention
Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture
Ghana
1.The Committee against Torture considered the initial report of Ghana (CAT/C/GHA/1) at its 992nd and 995th meetings
(CAT/C/SR.992 and 995), held on 16 and 17 May 2011, and adopted, at its 1011th meeting (CAT/C/SR.1011), the following
concluding observations.
A.Introduction
2.The Committee welcomes the submission of the initial report of Ghana. However, it regrets that the report does not follow generally
the Committee’s Guidelines on the form and content of initial reports (CAT/C/4/Rev.3), and that it was submitted nearly eight years
late, which prevented the Committee from conducting an analysis of the implementation of the Convention in the State party, following
its ratification in 2000. The Committee also regrets that the report lacks statistical and practical information on the implementation of
the provisions of the Convention.
3.The Committee appreciates the frank and open discussions it enjoyed with the State party’s delegation, and the additional
information that was provided during the consideration of the report.
B.Positive aspects
4.The Committee welcomes the efforts and progress made by the State party since the return to democratic rule in January 1993.
5.The Committee welcomes the fact that in the period since the entry into force of the Convention for the State party in 2000, Ghana
has ratified or acceded to the following international and regional instruments:
(a)The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in 2000;
(b)The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Optional Protocol on individual complaints, in 2000;
(c)The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, in 2000;
(d)The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, in 2011.
6.The Committee notes the efforts undertaken by the State party to reform its legislation to ensure better protection of human rights,
in particular:
(a)The adoption in 2003 of the Juvenile Justice Act (Act 653);
(b)The adoption in 2005 of the Human Trafficking Act (Act 694), and its 2009 amendment;
(c)The adoption in 2007 of the Domestic Violence Act (Act 732);
(d) The adoption in 2007 of the amended Criminal Code (Act 741), which criminalizes the practice of female genital mutilation.
7.The Committee welcomes the fact that on 9 February 2011, Ghana made the declaration under article 34 (6) of the Protocol to the
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights accepting
the competence of the Court to receive and examine cases from individuals and non-governmental organizations, in accordance with
article 5 (3) of the Protocol.
8.The Committee notes with appreciation that the State party has issued a standing invitation to the special procedures mechanisms of
the Human Rights Council and welcomes the recent visit of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the
highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.