A NICELY MADE Book, christened ‘Rights in Action’ which thoroughly educates the public about their rights and freedoms as citizens of the state, has been launched at a colourful ceremony in Kumasi.
Authored by Justice Anthony Kwadwo Yeboah, a High Court Judge, the 275-page book critically examines Supreme Court decisions on rights and freedoms of the citizenry.
The book also draws attention to judicial trends, challenges and lessons from jurisdictions such as Ireland, Britain, India, United States of America, Canada and South Africa.
The book was launched by the Ashanti Regional President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Lawyer Yaw Boafo. The event was graced by people from all walks of life including the academia and top businessmen.
The first copy of the book was bought at GH¢5,000 by Madam Freda Darko, MD of Freko FD Company Limited, managers of the Kumasi Kejetia Bus Terminal.
In his succinct remarks, Lawyer Boafo lamented that the laws of the land were not being tested much by the populace, a development which doesn’t promote the law profession.
He observed that Ghanaians more often than not tend to leave matters to God especially when their rights are infringed, stressing that it was time Ghanaians became more litigious.
The GBA President charged the populace to rush to the law courts to seek justice whenever their rights are infringed, reminding them that the courts were made to protect them so they should not be afraid to venture there.
Lawyer Boafo said Ghanaians usually head to court for recovery of money and land litigations, reiterating that the law court was also made to ensure that the rights of the people were protected.
He commended Justice Anthony Kwadwo Yeboah for taking time off his tight schedule to write books to educate the public, especially on matters concerning their rights and freedoms, urging other luminaries in the law profession to learn from him.
The book discusses issues involving the repeal of the offence of causing fear and harm, bail policy, fair trial, full disclosure of the prosecution’s case, scope of freedom of expressions and information and spousal rights.
It also touches on political attitude to the vulnerable in society, limits of rights adjudication, doctrine of political questions, reasonableness, proportionality, the common law method, nature and scope of rights, freedom and directive principles of social/state.
Justice Alhaji Kwaku Gyan, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Chairman for the event, charged Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of reading in order to acquire more knowledge.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi