President John Dramani Mahama has recounted personal experiences from his youth to stress the importance of human rights and justice.
Speaking at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, he shared how his father, a Minister of State under Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah, endured detention following the 1966 coup d’état.
“As a teenager, I often dreamt of my father standing before judges, awaiting their decision on his fate. He was detained once and faced that risk twice more. These fears led to recurring nightmares about him,” Mahama revealed.
He explained that witnessing such political persecution instilled in him a deep respect for due process and human dignity. Mahama emphasized that injustices extend beyond individuals, affecting entire families and communities, shaping how citizens view governance and the law.
Drawing a broader lesson, he urged African leaders to consider the societal impact of human rights violations, noting that no nation exists in isolation and the well-being of one community influences the continent as a whole.
Mahama concluded that personal experiences, like those of his father, serve as powerful reminders of why Africa must safeguard its judicial institutions and empower citizens through the protection of their rights.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
