Ghana is making strides toward advancing responsible business conduct by adopting and launching its National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. This initiative is the result of ongoing collaboration between the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, with support from other key stakeholders.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia made this announcement during the 14th Biennial Conference of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions in Accra.
The National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights signifies Ghana’s commitment to ensuring that businesses operate responsibly, respecting human rights and ethical standards. This is a positive step toward promoting human rights and ethical business practices in the country.
The three-day conference revolved around the theme, “Nurturing Responsible Business Conduct and Respect for Human Rights in Africa: The Role of African National Human Rights Institutions in Centring Human Rights and People’s Rights in the Context of Business Operations and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.”
This event brought together 46 national human rights institutions from six African countries, human rights commissioners, and activists. It served as a platform for deliberating on how to advance responsible business conduct and protect the human rights of African citizens, particularly in the context of business operations and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
Vice President urged national human rights institutions in Africa to continue monitoring business operations, investigating allegations of abuses, and ensuring that victims receive the necessary remedies. This underscores the critical role of these institutions in safeguarding human rights and promoting ethical business practices across the continent.
“The violations that do not get reported but come to your attention through your monitoring and engagements, take all the necessary steps available to you legally and in line with the Paris Principles to see to it that they are addressed,” Dr Bawumia advised the participants.
He commended the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) for the ground-breaking roles it had been playing in business and human rights and organising the conference to engender best practices among member countries.
“I am aware that the Commission in the year 2020 conducted a national baseline assessment on the Voluntary Principles of Security and Human Rights in the Extractive Sector in Ghana and in 2021 concluded the National Baseline Assessment on Business and Human Rights in Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration as a prelude to the processes towards the development and adoption of a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.
“As a government, we will support the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice to always deliver on its mandate,” the Vice President assured.
“I urge all African leaders to do same for their national human rights institutions as we need very strong, independent and results oriented national human rights institutions to provide the necessary guidance in improving on the human rights records in our respective countries and the continent as a whole,” he stated.
Bawumia emphasized the need for collective action by all stakeholders, including governments, national human rights institutions, corporate actors, and civil society organizations, to advance responsible business conduct and respect for human rights. He highlighted the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights as a crucial call to action for all stakeholders to work together in making the world a better place to live.
The Vice President commended the Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Joseph Whittal, for his leadership and the good work done in promoting human rights issues in Ghana. He expressed his belief that the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions would continue to build on its progress, conduct further research on business and human rights, and provide significant findings and recommendations that would shape policy, enhance the business climate, and contribute to building resilient economies in Africa, ultimately leading to sustainable development.
Dr. Bawumia affirmed the government’s anticipation of receiving the outcome document at the conclusion of the conference, indicating the government’s commitment to furthering the goals of responsible business conduct and human rights in Ghana and the broader African context.