The Chairman of Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, Ernest Yaw Anim, has delivered a stirring call to action for Ghana’s lawmakers to lead the charge in promoting and protecting human and children’s rights. 

Speaking at the opening of a two-day national workshop under the theme “Promoting Human and Children’s Rights: What Role for the Ninth Parliament of Ghana?”,  Mr Anim described the event not as a mere dialogue, but “a call to commitment, a moment of reflection, engagement, and decisive action.”

Mr Anim praised the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, for his “visionary leadership” in establishing the Committee, noting that it represents Parliament’s determination to place human rights at the centre of national governance.

“Our mandate is not merely a formal obligation; it is an active duty,” he said. 

He outlined the Committee’s responsibilities, which include legislative scrutiny, oversight of government compliance, and direct engagement with civil society and vulnerable communities.

Highlighting recent efforts by the Committee, Hon. Anim revealed that the team had visited Nsawam Prison to assess conditions, held discussions with the Ghana Prison Service on the treatment of vulnerable detainees, and conducted a study visit to The Gambia to investigate the plight of stateless Ghanaians. 

“This has galvanised us to collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to craft a national strategy to address statelessness,” he announced. 

He further noted plans to assess conditions in witch camps, mental health institutions, and refugee communities across the country.

Urging fellow Members of Parliament to go beyond passing laws, Mr Anim reminded them of their duty to give voice to the voiceless. 

“We are the voice for the vulnerable—children at risk, young girls caught in early marriages, victims of trafficking, detainees, and stateless persons,” he said. 

He called on development partners and civil society actors to continue their critical collaboration, concluding: “Let us embrace our historic responsibility, to be Parliamentarians who protect, empower, and deliver justice and hope.”