About Us
“Akwaaba”, a Ghanaian word which means “welcome”, signifies our happiness for you to feel at home when you visit this site.
Ghana First Inc was formed by a group of concerned Ghanaians and friends based in Australia who feel that we can do our little bit towards finding solutions to the problems facing Ghana that is inhibiting its development and progress, especially in areas of Law and order, lack of respect for the Rule of Law, and of course what increasingly appears to be the trend of the citizenry’s acceptance of corruption as a way of life or the way we do business in Ghana.
We’re here to find the ROOTS to the problems the Ghanaian society is facing and solutions or answers to solve such problems in the Ghanaian society.
So while on this site it would be appreciated if you could send us a message on what we can do to achieve our goal of a more perfect Ghanaian society.
There is strength in unity
Patriotism is a must for all Ghanaians Walking Together; it is the key part in our vision for social improvement. It’s our core belief – by working together, we’re stronger together – and we can achieve something greater than we can achieve as individuals. Moreover, for us and for the people of Ghana, SACRIFICE is as an essential ingredient for healing Ghana to mature as a nation.
Ghana First is for Fairness
Ghana First believes in fairness and will encourage the Government in office to treat all Ghanaians with dignity and respect.
We believe in:
- Opportunities being provided for all citizens regardless of status, gender or beliefs for full participation in nation building.
- The power of education, empowerment and equality of opportunity.
- Sticking together and sharing fairly the risks that we all face.
- A fair distribution of wealth and income.
- Upholding the rights, benefits and duties of citizenship and democratic participation.
- The right to live in a society that values well-being and a safe and secure home.
- A community that takes a zero tolerance stance on all forms of violence.
- A community that respects the rule of law.
- A government that has a responsibility to intervene in the rule of LAW.
- Disciplinary measures being enforced when a citizen disobeys or does not respect the constitutional law, regardless of the person’s status.
- Holding governments and other institutions to account and ensuring they meet high standards and work in the public interest.
- Democracy and good government that works to create a better future for Ghanaians, a prosperous, forward looking nation, a strong and united community and a fair society where every Ghanaian has the opportunity to live a good life and no one is left behind.
- A just and humane society in which the importance of the family and the role of law and justice is maintained.
- Equal opportunity for all Ghanaians and the encouragement and facilitation of wealth so that all may enjoy the highest possible standards of living, health, education and social justice.
The Rule of Law
Governments exist to protect the rights and dignity of the individual person, and to establish a framework of laws and institutions which empowers individual people so they can achieve their potential.
Laws should give the same rights to everyone, and not be used to create special privileges for sections of the community or organisations. Policy should aim to achieve the public interest, not pander to special interests.
All people in Ghana have over-arching responsibilities to respect Ghana’s democratic institutions.
For Ghana First, the rule of law refers to “a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the Government itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards. It requires, as well, measures to ensure adherence to the principles of supremacy of law, equality before the law, accountability to the law, fairness in the application of the law, separation of powers, participation in decision-making, legal certainty, avoidance of arbitrariness and procedural and legal transparency.”
Ghana First works to support a rule of law framework at the national level: a Constitution or its equivalent, as the highest law of the land; clear and consistent legal framework, and implementation thereof; strong institutions of justice, governance, security and human rights that are well structured, financed, trained and equipped; transitional justice processes and mechanisms; and a public and civil society that contributes to strengthening the rule of law and holding public officials and institutions accountable. These are the norms, policies, institutions and processes that form the core of a society in which individuals feel safe and secure, where disputes are settled peacefully and effective redress is available for harm suffered, and where all who violate the law, including the State itself, are held to account.