ARUSHA, March 3 -- AFRICAN countries have been urged to prioritise the rights and dignity of their people over the mere exploitation of resources, as violations of human rights affect more than just individuals.

They were also encouraged to ratify the treaty establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights (AfCHPR), allowing citizens to access the court directly.

The message was delivered by the President of Ghana, John Mahama during the opening of the 2026 Judicial Year of the AfCHPR and the launch of the courts 20th-anniversary celebrations in Arusha yesterday.

President Mahama said that African countries must collaborate to protect human rights and dignity through the African Court, while strengthening domestic legal syste...