Two young people in Wa, in the Upper West Region, were flogged by some young men in the forecourt of the Wa Naa’s Palace for filming their sexual intercourse after the video went viral on social media.
This was meant to be a punishment for the couple who engaged in the act which had tarnished the image of the town and which was abhorred by Islam. A riot broke in the town after three persons connected with the flogging were arrested by the police. The angry youth protested, demanding the release of the culprits.
What The Law Says
Following the chaos, the police disclosed that 18 persons had been arrested and that there was a manhunt to apprehend more individuals believed to have flogged the victims for physical abuse.
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has outrightly condemned the act of flogging the victims stating that it is a violation of their fundamental human rights and an attack on their persons. It added, “The flogging of the young persons is antiquated, backward, barbaric and abominable, and the GBA condemns same in no uncertain terms”.
The GBA’s Women and Minors Rights Committee has been tasked to take up this matter, by closely monitoring, and offering the necessary legal support to the unfortunate victims of the lawless and barbaric act. Amnesty International has also encouraged the Ghana Police Service to investigate the Wa flogging event thoroughly to apprehend other perpetrators.
The aftermath of the flogging has been distressing for the victims as they disclosed in an exclusive interview with TV3 their ordeal. The lady in the act sustained bruises on her back and wounds on her hands and has not been able to return to work following the humiliating event. The other victim also recounted his predicament: he disclosed that apart from the lashes on his back, he suffered eye damage due to a kick in the face by one of his violent molesters. This, he said has affected his sight.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Social Welfare Director said that the Social Welfare Department in Wa has offered to cater for the medical care of the victims.
The ‘Primitive’ VS The Contemporary
This is an unfortunate event that occurred in Wa and we must collectively as a people work to educate people on the need to refrain from taking the law into their own hands by imposing sanctions on anyone who is suspected of breaking the law or violating any community’s moral values.
On the flip side, others believe that flogging was appropriate as it is a rather traditional and age-old way of instilling discipline in the youth. More so, others are of the view that the traditional authorities have power over their subjects and can dish out punishments as they see fit for offences.
These schools of thought are, however, contentious as the GBA, Amnesty and other bodies have, on the grounds of human rights, spoken harshly against it. Is this then to say that the authority of the traditional leadership in Ghana is just superficial with no depth like a toothless lion? Or is this a case of old ways of disciplining offenders becoming unwanted, insignificant and abominable in contemporary times? If traditional leaders in the various areas in Ghana will be handcuffed by ‘human rights’ in their bid to punish offenders in their jurisdictions, what real power do they have?
Regardless, Ghana is a nation bounded by a constitution which explicitly makes provisions for the rights of citizens, both criminals and free, thus, the Wa incident is a breach of constitutional procedures.
But what do you think? It’s good to talk. Let’s hear your voice on this.