Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Bagbin, has formally re-inaugurated the African Commission of Health and Human Rights Promoters and launched its Endowment Fund with a personal contribution of GH¢100,000.
The event, held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on Thursday, September 17, marked the revival of the Commission with a renewed focus on healthcare rights, human dignity, accountability, and advocacy for vulnerable and marginalised people.
The Commission, according to its founder, Naa Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle, traces its origins to efforts in 1989 to address human rights concerns surrounding HIV/AIDS and discrimination against people living with the disease.
Professor Delle recounted how the organisation’s work later expanded to supporting people fleeing persecution and torture, including journalists and others who sought refuge in Ghana.
He said the Commission’s activities subsequently slowed because of financial constraints, but the re-inauguration was intended to provide a new foundation for its work across health and human rights.
New focus on health and human rights
The Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Bishop Louis Christian Godson, outlined three key areas that will guide the organisation’s renewed operations.
These are advocacy and education, accountability and redress, and policy integration.
He said the Commission would work to promote patients’ rights, educate the public about healthcare rights, engage healthcare providers, document alleged violations, and contribute to policy discussions on health and human rights.
Bishop Godson also highlighted mental health, access to healthcare, health insurance, and environmental health as areas requiring sustained attention.
He described illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, as a public health concern and called for stronger scientific research, monitoring and public education on environmental pollution and its potential effects on communities.
Call for sustainable financing
A major component of the event was the launch of the Commission’s Endowment Fund, which organisers said is intended to provide sustainable financing for its programmes.
Bishop Godson said the Commission has set an ambitious long-term target of raising US$10 billion within five years to create a financial backbone for its activities.
According to him, sustainable resources are necessary to support research, legal aid, environmental testing, monitoring, and other interventions required to advance health and human rights.
He stressed that reliance solely on short-term donor grants and irregular funding cycles could undermine the sustainability of advocacy organisations.
Bagbin: Resources needed to sustain institutions
Delivering the keynote address, Speaker Bagbin underscored the importance of institutions that can serve as a bridge between policymakers and the realities faced by citizens.
He said commissions and civil society organisations working in health and human rights play an important role in bringing the concerns of vulnerable people to the attention of decision-makers.
The Speaker also stressed the importance of sustainable financing, likening an institution without resources to a vehicle without fuel.
He cited healthcare-related interventions, including efforts to support dialysis services, as examples of areas where dedicated financing mechanisms can help sustain programmes.
Rt. Hon. Bagbin subsequently formally declared the African Commission of Health and Human Rights Promoters re-inaugurated and the Endowment Fund launched.
Focus on vulnerable groups
The speakers placed particular emphasis on people whose access to healthcare and human rights protections may be compromised by poverty, discrimination, disability, social exclusion, or other vulnerabilities.
Professor Delle recalled the Commission’s historical engagement with people facing discrimination and health challenges, while Bishop Godson said the renewed Commission would continue to advocate for people whose rights are violated within healthcare and other social systems.
The Commission also intends to strengthen research and public education as part of its renewed mandate.
A renewed continental ambition
The re-inauguration marks an attempt by the African Commission of Health and Human Rights Promoters to build on its earlier human rights and health advocacy work while responding to contemporary challenges affecting communities.
With the Endowment Fund now launched, the organisation says it intends to strengthen its capacity to undertake advocacy, research, accountability, and policy engagement in Ghana and beyond.
The event brought together policymakers, civil society representatives, health professionals, human rights advocates, and other stakeholders for discussions on the intersection between health, human rights, and social justice.
Source: Joseph Kobla Wemakor
