Nkonkonsa Celebrity Gossip From Africa
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has declared the arrest and deportation of Shalimar Abbuisi, the former spokesperson for the New Force Movement, as unlawful and a violation of her human rights under Article 6, which guarantees the right to liberty. The court has ordered the Republic of Ghana to compensate her for the damages caused.
Expressing her elation in a video statement, the Belgian national described the ruling as a victory for human rights. “The ECOWAS Court ruled that my rearrest and my deportation was against the law and in violation of Article 6, which protects the human right of liberty. So, the state has to compensate me now. They have to pay me damages. Today is an amazing day. This is victory. Justice has prevailed,” she said.
Ms. Abbuisi further emphasized the broader significance of the ruling, stating, “This is a beautiful day for humanity. The law has done its work, and I thank God for vindicating me. There is hope for humanity, and today, we have written history.”
Earlier this year, Ms. Abbuisi filed a case at the ECOWAS Court through her lawyer, Francis-Xavier Sosu, demanding $1 million in compensation for what she described as violations of her human rights by the Ghanaian government. The case stemmed from her arrest by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in December 2023, where she was charged with “obtaining a student permit by false declaration” under Section 52 (1) (i) of the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573).
The charges were later dropped, but Ms. Abbuisi was deported from Ghana, a move she considered unjust and unlawful. Dissatisfied with her treatment, she sought redress at the ECOWAS Court, claiming that the actions of the Ghanaian authorities had violated her fundamental human rights.
Her legal team argued for nine reliefs, including an order for the Ghanaian state to pay her compensatory damages equivalent to $1 million for the injustices she endured.
The ruling has sparked mixed reactions, with human rights advocates praising it as a significant step in holding states accountable for human rights violations. At the same time, others have called for a review of immigration policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The decision marks a significant moment in the fight for justice and human rights, reinforcing the role of regional courts in safeguarding individual freedoms across the West African subregion.
Source: NKONKONSA.com
