This is a book on "Human Rights" and especially on that first step "right to a hearing or due process before condemnation. It is an attempt to put on record the author's very personal experiences in trying to access justice, and the denial of that most fundamental item of natural justice: "right to a hearing" for close to twenty years in a country and a legal system that claims to be better that most in Africa.
It is also about what one suffers at the hands of some lawyers when one is not loaded with money; and the chances a layman has of getting justice in today's professionally slanted intellectual courtroom.
The author believes that justice is a most basic need of man, and on paper this right especially that first step right to a hearing seems guaranteed. But in practice justice has been so monetized today that only those who can buy top class professional assistance or have high level social/political contacts ever get a genuine opportunity.
It is the author's strong belief that the rights we have on paper and should be enjoying today were fought for and indeed wrested through long struggles and extreme sacrifice. Her contention therefore is that if present leadership cannot add to what has already been made universally availble, then at least they should not take away from what was won with so much sacrifice and handed to our generation with so much hope and promise.
On the other hand she believes that the ordinary man and general society also have a duty to insist on and to fight for the full utilization and enjoyment of what is supposedly already universally available to all humans beyond the mere fact that they exist on paper.
In an attempt to try and improve this situation for herself and for all of humankind, the author in addition to publishing this book is also petitioning both the United Nations and the Chief Justice of Ghana. She will also try to garner public support via the social media platforms to help push for the needed reforms in some of the negatives that affects the ordinary man in today's justice delivery system; by the placing of a write up with a resolution and invitation for signatures, comments and contributions. The main platform will be dubbed: an International Push for Reform in Justice Delivery(I.P.R. JUSTICE).
The author's thinking is that perhaps time and distance from the struggles that brought about democracy and the making of justice and equal rights into universal items available to all of mankind, has dulled present leadership's sensitivity to the factors that birthed these rights. For rights, when listed as available are meant to be used and enjoyed; not remain on paper for show.
However the fact that today more and more people are standing up for their rights and even trying to face up to and stand against abusive lawyers should tell today's leadership that perhaps the very forcing hand of socio-historical necessity that birthed these ancient changes and the spreading of rights to all could very well be on the way to repeating itself.
Naturally these hard won right were handed to present generation on a silver platter, but if we will not fight to even maintain them it will be a slap in the face to past struggles and future generations will curse us.
Fact is throughout history justice was always available to some; and it was its denial to the vast majority that pushed society to rebel and to rise. Yet today justice has been reduced to a saleable commodity that only a few can afford, and that is unacceptable.
The author's hope in documenting her experiences is that no matter what the outcome of her efforts are,even if it is negative, at least if a record of what she is trying to do is available, it will serve as a reminder and check for posterity; and then it just might also serve as a pointer to help others to continue the fight and to push for a better world where rights are enjoyed by both the rich and the poor; and not just kept on paper for some sections.
It is also about what one suffers at the hands of some lawyers when one is not loaded with money; and the chances a layman has of getting justice in today's professionally slanted intellectual courtroom.
The author believes that justice is a most basic need of man, and on paper this right especially that first step right to a hearing seems guaranteed. But in practice justice has been so monetized today that only those who can buy top class professional assistance or have high level social/political contacts ever get a genuine opportunity.
It is the author's strong belief that the rights we have on paper and should be enjoying today were fought for and indeed wrested through long struggles and extreme sacrifice. Her contention therefore is that if present leadership cannot add to what has already been made universally availble, then at least they should not take away from what was won with so much sacrifice and handed to our generation with so much hope and promise.
On the other hand she believes that the ordinary man and general society also have a duty to insist on and to fight for the full utilization and enjoyment of what is supposedly already universally available to all humans beyond the mere fact that they exist on paper.
In an attempt to try and improve this situation for herself and for all of humankind, the author in addition to publishing this book is also petitioning both the United Nations and the Chief Justice of Ghana. She will also try to garner public support via the social media platforms to help push for the needed reforms in some of the negatives that affects the ordinary man in today's justice delivery system; by the placing of a write up with a resolution and invitation for signatures, comments and contributions. The main platform will be dubbed: an International Push for Reform in Justice Delivery(I.P.R. JUSTICE).
The author's thinking is that perhaps time and distance from the struggles that brought about democracy and the making of justice and equal rights into universal items available to all of mankind, has dulled present leadership's sensitivity to the factors that birthed these rights. For rights, when listed as available are meant to be used and enjoyed; not remain on paper for show.
However the fact that today more and more people are standing up for their rights and even trying to face up to and stand against abusive lawyers should tell today's leadership that perhaps the very forcing hand of socio-historical necessity that birthed these ancient changes and the spreading of rights to all could very well be on the way to repeating itself.
Naturally these hard won right were handed to present generation on a silver platter, but if we will not fight to even maintain them it will be a slap in the face to past struggles and future generations will curse us.
Fact is throughout history justice was always available to some; and it was its denial to the vast majority that pushed society to rebel and to rise. Yet today justice has been reduced to a saleable commodity that only a few can afford, and that is unacceptable.
The author's hope in documenting her experiences is that no matter what the outcome of her efforts are,even if it is negative, at least if a record of what she is trying to do is available, it will serve as a reminder and check for posterity; and then it just might also serve as a pointer to help others to continue the fight and to push for a better world where rights are enjoyed by both the rich and the poor; and not just kept on paper for some sections.
