Ghana’s parliament speaker relaunches health rights commission — MyJoyOnline
Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Alban Kingsford Bagbin officially relaunched the African Commission of Health and Human Rights Promoters in Accra and launched its sustainable financing fund. He also made a personal contribution of 100,000 Ghanaian cedis to the fund.
The ceremony took place on September 17 at the Labadi Beach Hotel. As MyJoyOnline reports, the relaunched commission aims to continue its work on the right to healthcare, human dignity, accountability, and the protection of vulnerable and marginalized groups.
History and areas of work
The organization’s founder, Naa Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle, said that the commission was established in 1989 in response to concerns about human rights in connection with HIV/AIDS and discrimination against people living with the disease. Its activities later expanded to support people seeking asylum in Ghana while fleeing persecution and torture, including journalists.
According to Delle, the organization’s work later slowed due to financial constraints. The commission’s executive director, Bishop Louis Christian Godson, said its renewed activities would have three areas: advocacy and education, accountability and restoration of violated rights, as well as the integration of health and human rights issues into public policy.
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Sustainable financing fund
The commission intends to promote patients’ rights, inform the public about rights in healthcare, engage with healthcare providers, document alleged violations, and take part in policy discussions. Its areas of work include mental health, access to healthcare, health insurance, and environmental health.
Godson also described illegal mining, known in Ghana as galamsey, as a public health problem. He called for stronger scientific research, environmental pollution monitoring, and public awareness about its possible consequences.
According to Godson, the commission has set a long-term goal of raising $10 billion over five years. He noted that stable funding is important for supporting research, legal assistance, environmental testing, monitoring, and other health and human rights initiatives.
