NALAG to mobilize MMDAs to protect the rights of the poor

The National Association of Local Governments of Ghana (NALAG) has intimated its move to ensure that local government authorities protect the human rights of the poor and vulnerable in society.

The General-Secretary of the Association, Kokro Amankwah said protection of the rights of the poor would be included in its assessments of league of tables.

He said this would compel Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to make it a priority.

Mr. Amankwah was speaking at a courtesy call Crime Check Foundation (CCF) paid on NALAG to seek the association’s partnership.

It is part of the implementation of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) funded ‘Decriminalizing Vagrancy Laws and Advocacy’ (DVLA) project.

The project seeks to create an enabling environment for vagrants (the homeless and other poor and voiceless persons) to know, claim and exercise their rights.

This is aimed at ending the criminalization of vagrancy or homelessness in the country.

Mr. Amankwah said one of the ways to protect the poor is to get closer to the people through education on the bye-laws.

“The association is very keen on educating citizens on bye-laws and through the OSIWA project, it would be an opportunity for us to get closer to the people. We must be the voice of the voiceless,” he said.

“We would want to sustain the education on the bye-laws and that is why we would make it a point to add it to our assessments of league tables of assemblies. This will ensure which assembly protected the poor more,” he added.

He was optimistic that the partnership between CCF and NALAG would fuel education on vagrancy laws.

About the CCF-OSIWA Project:

CCF is a crime prevention and human rights advocacy organization in Ghana. The Decriminalizing Vagrancy Laws and Advocacy project is funded by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). The project seeks to create an enabling environment for vagrants (the homeless and other poor and voiceless persons) to know, claim and exercise their rights to end the criminalization of vagrancy or homelessness in Ghana.

About OSIWA:

Established in 2000, the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) is a grant-making and advocacy organization focused on equality, justice, democratic governance, human rights, and knowledge generation. It is part of the global network of Open Society Foundations spread across 37 countries around the world.  

By Rudolph Nandi

www.rudnankp4@gmail.com