Youth for Human Rights Africa (YoHRA) has stated that Stephen Arthur who was mistakenly short by a Police Officer is “a victim of police recklessness”.
In a statement signed by its Communications Director, Christopher Anku, the “neglect of Stephen for the past 6 years was in breach of his Human Rights as contained in the AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE’S RIGHT specifically Articles 4, 5 and 7 and the UNITED
NATIONS DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS and CHAPTER FIVE of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana that guarantees Stephen’s Security, Health, Life and dignity as a Human being.”
“The continuous breach of these inalienable rights are UNACCEPTABLE and we must all help the poor victim assert his right through every rightful and legal means”- Mr. Anku added.
What happened to Stephen Arthur?
Stephen Arthur recounted the whole incidence which has left him 100% paralyzed to both the host of the morning show of Agoo TV and Christopher Ankou, the Director of Communication of YoHRA
“On 4th, January 2011 whiles I was traveling from Boduasi to Kasoa in the back seat of a private car, the driver was stopped by a police officer at the Boduasi barrier to demand his new year “gift”. The driver gave the officer Ten Ghana cedis.
Whiles conversation was still going on between the driver and the police officer, another officer at post came around to also demand same but the driver was reluctant and was asked to drive away by the officer who had received his “gift”. It was only when he heard a loud sound from the back of his car accompanied by a spontaneous loud cry from me from the back seat by which time I had gone into coma that he stopped”.
Stephen said he later woke up at the Korlebu Teaching Hospital where he was admitted for a while and asked to go home because he could not afford the bills.
It was only when his health was fast deteriorating that the attention of the police was called through a letter to the headquarters and subsequently admitted at the police hospital.
Whiles on admission, Stephen said he was visited by the then IGP, Mr. PAUL TAWIAH who bought him a wheelchair and promised him some compensation which never materialized.
Stephen added that the current IGP has also visited and made promises which are yet to be fulfilled.
Read the full statement from Youth For Human Rights Africa:
For Immediate Release
ALL MEDIA HOUSES
August 17, 2017.
JUSTICE FOR STEPHEN ARTHUR IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
Introduction
Youth For Human Rights Africa (YoHRA) is a non governmental Human Rights Organization with Mission “to serve as a medium to promote and advocate the observance of Fundamental Human Rights by the use of National, Regional, African and United Nations Human Rights Instruments” and also “to lead Human Rights Promotion and Advocacy across the continent of Africa”.
Background
By an invitation from EIB’s AgooTV for an exclusive live interview on it’s morning show on the 10th of August, 2017 to make comments on a case involving a citizen of Ghana by name Stephen Arthur, YoHRA has since been following up on the young victim who is currently struggling with his health.
Stephen Arthur is a victim of police recklessness
Stephen Arthur recounted the whole incidence which has left him 100% paralyzed to both the host of the morning show of Agoo TV and Christopher Ankou, the Director of Communication of YoHRA
“On 4th, January 2011 whiles I was traveling from Boduasi to Kasoa in the back seat of a private car, the driver was stopped by a police officer at the Boduasi barrier to demand his new year “gift”. The driver gave the officer Ten Ghana cedis.
Whiles conversation was still going on between the driver and the police officer, another officer at post came around to also demand same but the driver was reluctant and was asked to drive away by the officer who had received his “gift”. It was only when he heard a loud sound from the back of his car accompanied by a spontaneous loud cry from me from the back seat by which time I had gone into coma that he stopped”.
Stephen said he later woke up at the Korlebu Teaching Hospital where he was admitted for a while and asked to go home because he could not afford the bills.
It was only when his health was fast deteriorating that the attention of the police was called through a letter to the headquarters and subsequently admitted at the police hospital.
Whiles on admission, Stephen said he was visited by the then IGP, Mr. PAUL TAWIAH who bought him a wheelchair and promised him some compensation which never materialized.
Stephen added that the current IGP has also visited and made promises which are yet to be fulfilled.
Youth for Human Rights Africa’s Director of Communication, Christopher Ankou in an interview on Agoo TV intimated that the state was under an obligation to ensure the safety of every citizen. He added also that the state owed Stephen a duty of care which duty has been breached for which reason an appropriate compensation must be paid Stephen to enable him try put his life together again.
Mr Ankou was of the view that the reluctance of the Ghana Police Service and for that matter the state to prosecute the police officer who clearly was engaged in an act of corruption and the neglect of Stephen for the past 6 years was in breach of his Human Rights as contained in the AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE’S RIGHT specifically Articles 4, 5 and 7 and the UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS and CHAPTER FIVE of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana that guarantees Stephen’s Security, Health, Life and dignity as a Human being. “The continuous breach of these inalienable rights are UNACCEPTABLE and we must all help the poor victim assert his right through every rightful and legal means”- He added.
Mr. Ankou again revealed they have been having very revealing conversations with the Victim who says he NO LONGER wants to continue with his Lawyer and therefore has requested for YoHRA to take up the case on his behalf. “We have since made contact with his Lawyer who is yet to get back to us” – He added.
We wish to appeal to the general public to come to the aid of Stephen who has been abandoned at the Police hospital only to the mercy of benevolence.
Christopher Selorm Ankou
Director of Communications – YoHRA
0549199090
cs.ankou@yohra.org
