Judul : Gov’t unveils plan to address corporate human rights risks
link : Gov’t unveils plan to address corporate human rights risks
Gov’t unveils plan to address corporate human rights risks
The government has formally launched the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR), outlining a framework to hold companies accountable for their impact on human rights and ensure access to remedies when abuses occur.
The launch marks Ghana’s entry into a growing group of African nations implementing such frameworks, joining Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Liberia.
The plan, jointly developed by the Office of the Attorney-General and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), aims to align Ghana’s domestic regulatory environment with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, endorsed globally in 2011. The initiative is expected to address systemic gaps in the country’s corporate accountability and human rights ecosystem.
Speaking on behalf of Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dr. Dominic Ayine, Principal State Attorney Dr. Sylvia Adusu noted that Ghana began the process with a national baseline assessment in 2021, which was formally launched a year later. That assessment identified areas where business activities were adversely affecting rights and where legal or institutional remedies were weak or lacking.
A National Steering Committee, co-chaired by the Attorney-General’s office and CHRAJ, conducted nationwide consultations across all 16 regions to gather stakeholder input for the plan. The final draft was validated in 2024 and submitted to government authorities in November that year.
“The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice will play its role in ensuring that the NAP-BHR is adopted and that the objectives stated therein are achieved,” Dr. Adusu said, adding that the process had benefited from extensive collaboration between public institutions and development partners.
CHRAJ Commissioner Joseph Whittal underscored the significance of the plan’s formal adoption, calling it a reference point for addressing corporate-related human rights harms. He described the NAP as “the best so far in Africa” in terms of the breadth of consultations and the emphasis on inclusivity, including the provision of copies in Braille.
Mr. Whittal said the NAP sets the stage for new institutional arrangements to monitor business compliance. “The Commission is committed to the implementation of the NAP and will take all necessary steps to support the Government in ensuring that all the recommendations contained in the NAP are achieved,” he said.
The plan addresses several policy areas, including licensing in the extractive sector, corporate responsibility to respect rights, and mechanisms for grievance redress. It also reflects Ghana’s commitment under the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council, which recommended integrating the UN Guiding Principles into all relevant national policies.
Dr. Adusu emphasised Ghana’s longstanding recognition of human rights obligations in the Constitution, which mandates both natural and legal persons to respect human rights. She added that the international community had been closely watching Ghana’s progress since it hosted the inaugural African Business and Human Rights Forum in 2022.
Both the Attorney-General’s office and CHRAJ expressed appreciation for the support provided by development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme, the Government of Japan, Oxfam, UNICEF, ActionAid, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
As part of the next phase, CHRAJ will oversee the implementation of the NAP and has called for support to establish a dedicated national secretariat to coordinate and monitor compliance.
While the launch of the plan is a major milestone, both government officials and civil society leaders cautioned that meaningful change will depend on implementation.
Stakeholders are expected to begin rolling out activities aligned with the NAP’s objectives over the coming months.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).Demikianlah Artikel Gov’t unveils plan to address corporate human rights risks
Anda sekarang membaca artikel Gov’t unveils plan to address corporate human rights risks dengan alamat link https://www.punyakamu.com/2025/07/govt-unveils-plan-to-address-corporate.html
0 Response to "Gov’t unveils plan to address corporate human rights risks"
Post a Comment