International law and human rights lawyer, Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, has defended the practice of petitioning the diplomatic community, arguing that it is a legitimate tool for safeguarding human rights and democratic values.
Speaking on JoyNews‘ The Probe on Sunday, September 14, Prof. Appiagyei-Atua explained that international processes allow for engagement between governments, individuals, and diplomatic missions, especially in situations where a state is either unable or unwilling to protect its citizens.
“One of the means by which diplomatic relations are conducted is through reliance on human rights principles,” he noted. “There is nothing wrong with what the NPP has done, and there is also nothing wrong if somebody seeks political protection or asylum by going to an embassy and asking for that embassy’s protection.”
He acknowledged concerns about state sovereignty and fears of external interference but clarified that such petitions typically follow established channels.
According to him, these processes are usually handled quietly behind the scenes, where a foreign mission may raise issues with the host government without directly interfering in domestic affairs.
“When a citizen feels unprotected, one avenue is to appeal to another government through its diplomatic mission,” he explained. “Normally, this is not made public because states cannot interfere directly. But if there is a clear case of rights violations that is systemic and threatens the very integrity of the state, then foreign governments may escalate by imposing sanctions.”
Prof. Appiagyei-Atua’s comments come against the backdrop of a petition submitted by the Minority to the diplomatic corps in Ghana, in which they accused the government of harassing citizens and eroding democratic freedoms.