The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) Africa Office has admonished Ghana, and all countries signed unto the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (AChHPR) to implement the “Principles on the Decriminalisation of Petty Offences in Africa”.

In a press statement, CHRI noted the principles should be upheld by all, especially government, because they “have a responsibility to end poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030, particularly by ensuring that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources.”

It further added that targeting the poor and marginalised persons to enforce petty and trivial offences is contrary to Sustainable Development Goal 10, which talks about reducing inequality within and among countries.

A world where these principles are implemented CHRI explained will promote a level playing field in justice delivery.

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative made the plea as part of its efforts to commemorate International Human Rights Day today, December 10. This year’s theme is “Equality: Reducing Inequalities, Advancing Human Rights”.

CHRI is currently working on “Decriminalising Poverty by Advocating for the Decriminalisation of Petty Offences in Africa” in its efforts to reform laws that disproportionately target the poor and vulnerable, infringe on their rights, dignity and perpetuate inequality.

According to the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, like many African countries, Ghana has laws in its Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 30) that criminalise petty offences.

They include “common nuisance, idle and disorderly behaviour, loitering, being a vagrant, penalising conduct related to the performance of life-sustaining activities in public spaces such as arresting street traders for hawking/vending and other life-sustaining activities etc.”

For CHRI, these laws are vague, arbitrary and highly dependent on police discretion for arrest.

“The offences indicated by their nature target the poor and marginalised, who indulge in such line of work just to earn an income,” it added.

It is in light of the above that CHRI has reaffirmed its commitment to work for the promotion of human rights as enshrined in Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), African Commission on Human and People’s Right (ACHPR) and in Article 17 of the Constitution of Ghana.