Torture Is Never Justifiable- CHRAJ Declares
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice has reaffirmed that torture can never be justified, as Ghana joins the international community to mark the 2026 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
In a statement issued on Friday, CHRAJ said no circumstance, whether linked to security, crime control, punishment or mental illness, can excuse the deliberate infliction of suffering or denial of a person’s inherent dignity.
The Commission described torture as not only a violation of the law but a grave assault on human dignity, with effects that extend beyond physical pain to cause lasting psychological, emotional and social harm for victims, families and communities.
It noted that the prohibition of torture is absolute under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and the United Nations Convention against Torture.
Despite ongoing legal and policy reforms, CHRAJ expressed concern that practices such as chaining, prolonged confinement and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment continue to be reported in some settings.
The Commission also highlighted overcrowded conditions, limited access to healthcare and weak rehabilitation support faced by many persons deprived of their liberty, stressing that preventing torture requires ensuring every person is treated with humanity, dignity and respect.
CHRAJ further noted that Ghana supported recommendations during its Fourth Cycle Universal Periodic Review aimed at strengthening safeguards against torture and ill-treatment.
These include establishing a National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, improving accountability for misconduct and excessive use of force by law enforcement, and strengthening protections for persons with disabilities and mental health conditions.
To advance these safeguards, the Commission is calling on Parliament to expedite passage of the CHRAJ Amendment Bill, 2025, which designates the Commission as Ghana’s National Preventive Mechanism and provides a stronger legal framework for addressing torture.
CHRAJ also acknowledged efforts to improve access to justice, strengthen human rights education within the security sector, and advance mental health reform under the Mental Health Act, 2012.
As the day is commemorated, the Commission said it stands in solidarity with victims and survivors of torture, whose experiences remind Ghanaians that torture is a lived reality with lasting consequences.
CHRAJ called on all stakeholders to renew their commitment to preventing torture, investigating allegations promptly and impartially, holding perpetrators accountable, and ensuring effective remedies for victims.
“Ghana must continue building a society in which the dignity and rights of every person are protected without exception,” the Commission added.
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