Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South and Vice-Chairman of Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, has issued an urgent call on African governments to intensify efforts at addressing rising human rights violations across the continent through education, accountability and improved social services.
Speaking at the 87th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in The Gambia, where he represented the Parliament of Ghana alongside other lawmakers, Dr. Agyemang warned that persistent abuses in several African countries continue to threaten democratic governance and human dignity.
According to international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, Africa continues to witness increasing cases of human rights abuses linked to armed conflicts, restrictions on free expression, violence against women and vulnerable groups, weak healthcare systems and limited access to essential social services.
Dr. Agyemang said African countries must prioritise human rights education as a practical step towards reducing violations and empowering citizens to demand justice and accountability.
“It is important that we educate people on human rights and human rights violations. People need to know their rights so they can demand accountability and justice where necessary,” he stated.
The legislator emphasized that human rights discussions should extend beyond political freedoms to include access to healthcare, clean water, quality roads and decent living conditions.
He argued that the failure of governments to provide essential social services must equally be recognised as a violation of fundamental human rights.
“When a child dies from a preventable disease, that is a human rights issue because every child has the right to live and should not die from illnesses that can be prevented,” he said.
Dr. Agyemang also drew attention to the daily struggles faced by women in deprived and rural communities across the continent, noting that the absence of basic infrastructure continues to expose many to danger and hardship.
“When a pregnant woman has to walk long distances to fetch water and gets bitten by a snake, that is also a human rights issue because she is being denied access to quality roads and clean, accessible water,” he added.
His comments come amid growing concerns from rights observers over deteriorating human rights conditions in parts of Africa. Recent assessments by Amnesty International have highlighted issues including suppression of protests, restrictions on dissent and the worsening humanitarian impact of conflict, poverty and climate-related disasters.
In Ghana, concerns have also been raised over attacks on journalists, violence against women accused of witchcraft and challenges affecting minority groups and vulnerable communities.
The lawmaker maintained that education remains one of the strongest tools for reversing the trend and called for human rights studies to be incorporated into school curricula across Africa.
He proposed that civic and human rights education should begin at the basic school level through to tertiary institutions to nurture a generation grounded in justice, equality, accountability and civic responsibility.
Beyond the classroom, he encouraged churches, marketplaces, civil society organisations and community groups to deepen public engagement on human rights and civic awareness.
According to him, broadening public understanding of human rights would not only empower citizens to demand accountability from leaders but also strengthen democratic governance and improve living conditions across the continent.
