A/HRC/37/7 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its twenty-eighth session from 6 November to 17 November 2017. The review of Ghana was held at the 4th meeting, on 7 November 2017. The delegation of Ghana was headed by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Gloria Afua Akuffo. At its 10th meeting, held on 10 November 2017, the Working Group adopted the report on Ghana. 2. On 13 February 2017, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Ghana: Bangladesh, Paraguay and South Africa. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Ghana: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/28/GHA/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/28/GHA/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/28/GHA/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Brazil, Czechia, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Ghana through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The head of the delegation stated that Ghana regarded the universal periodic review as a platform for examining the status of human rights of States Members of the United Nations. 6. The obligation of the Government to uphold the human rights of its people was enshrined in the 1992 Constitution, which, inter alia, provided for the establishment of State institutions with mandates to safeguard the human rights of all persons in Ghana, guaranteed people’s access to justice, ensured the independence of the media and empowered citizens to contribute to good governance and the development of the country. 7. The contributions of civil society organizations in Ghana had, over the years, kept Government on its toes in the promotion and protection of human rights and educated the public on its rights. The Government was committed to continued engagement with all relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the recommendations accepted at the twenty-eighth session. 8. During the second review, in 2012, Ghana had accepted a total of 123 recommendations and rejected 25. The progress made in the implementation of the accepted recommendations was described in detail in the national report, which highlighted achievements in terms of human rights and challenges impeding efforts towards the full realization of the rights of all persons in Ghana. The delegation acknowledged the budgetary and technical support received from development partners towards the implementation of its human rights programmes. 9. In fulfilment of a recommendation by several States, Ghana had, in June 2016, ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman 2