Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1999

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Political Science

Major Professor

Ronald L. Peterson

Committee Members

Thomas Ungs, Robert Cunnigham, John Hodges

Abstract

This dissertation is a case study to determine the problems of human rights implementation among the Akans of Ghana.Using questionnaires constructed from the key tenets of the various human rights instruments, a field survey in five major Akan centers was carried out to determine the level of understanding and acceptance of these tenets.Another group of respondents, 65 years or older were interviewed in an attempt to establish what the Akan socio-political orientation was before the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.Personal interviews were conducted mainly with the older population in attempt to establish the Akan perception of human rights and humandignity.The findings from the field research indicates either a fundamental lack of understanding of the key tenets of human rights or in many cases, conflict of outlook of Akan cultural orientation and human rights principles.From the review of literature on human rights in Africa, including the African Charter of Human and Peoples' Rights, and the information gathered through the field research, it is concluded that Akans in particular and perhaps Africans in general either do not understand or accept the concept of human rights.

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