Claim: Social media users claim that the ECOWAS court has awarded a $1 million cost against Ghana in the case against New Force’s Shalimar Abbiusi.
Verdict: This is false. Checks by DUBAWA indicate that the awarded cost is $10,000, not $1 million. The amount is to be paid in Ghana cedis.
Full Text
The spokesperson for the New Force, Shalimar Abbiusi, has been celebrating the outcome of a suit she filed against the Republic of Ghana at the ECOWAS court in a series of posts on X.
In March of this year, Ms. Abbiusi filed a suit at the ECOWAS court, demanding $1 million in compensation from Ghana for violating her human rights and injustice. This was after she was arrested, charged for falsifying documents to secure permanent residence in Ghana, rearrested, and subsequently deported from the country.
However, on Friday, November 22, the ECOWAS court ruled that her re-arrest and detention after the withdrawal of charges against her violated her right to liberty and ordered the government of Ghana to compensate the Belgian national.
Shalimar Abbiusi shared photos of herself in an apparent joyous mood and received comments from well-wishers.
Among the responses, DUBAWA Ghana observed that some online users, such as here and here, had the impression that she had been awarded the full amount she was demanding.
Did the ECOWAS court award $1 million against Ghana in the case against Shalimar Abbiusi?
Verification
Following the ruling, the ECOWAS court made a publication detailing the outcome of the case that was brought before it.
“In the Judgment delivered by Honourable Justice Dupe Atoki, the Judge Rapporteur, the Court found that the re-arrest and detention of Ms. Abbiusi following the withdrawal of charges against her violated her right to liberty under Article 6 of the African Charter,” the Court’s publication read.
“In reparation to these violations, the Court awarded Ms Abbiusi compensation of USD 10,000, to be paid in Ghanaian Cedis, for the violations of her rights,” the publication added.
Other declarations by the Court
The Court also declared that her detention during interrogation did not violate her rights under Article 6 of the African Charter.
Therefore, it dismissed Ms. Abbiusi’s claims regarding violations of her rights to a fair hearing, freedom of movement, equality before the law, and freedom from discrimination due to insufficient evidence.
Conclusion
The monetary compensation awarded to Shalimar Abbiusi is $10,000 and not the $1 million being speculated. Shalimar requested $1 million in damages, but the court awarded $10,000.