The government has launched a National Action Plan on Business and Hu­man Rights (NAP-BHR), an effort to promote responsible business practices and safeguard human rights in the country.NAP-BHR aims at advancing the protection, respect and redress of human rights violations by Businesses.The initiative which was unani­mously endorsed by the UnitedNations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPBHR) and the Human Rights Council in June 2011, is supported by Governments from all regions of the world.Launching the initiative in Accra on Friday, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Domes­tic Ayine, noted that government also embarked on the initiative by first conducting a national baseline assessment on business and human rights which was validated in July 2021 and launched in July 2022.He stated that Launching UNG­PBHR, paved way for the develop­ment of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights to deal with the gaps in the business and human rights ecosystem in the country.The launch organised by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and other partners brought togeth­er key stakeholders from gov­ernment, civil society, the private sector, and development partners.The Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Principal State Attorney, Dr Sylvia Adusu, emphasised the state's strong com­mitment to ensuring businesses respect human rights, while provid­ing remedies for violations.He further highlighted the inter­national spotlight on the country following its hosting of the first African Business and Human Rights Forum in Accra in 2022, which intensified interest in the country's follow-up efforts.The Attorney-General's Office, he said had reaffirmed its role in steering the implementation of the action plan and ensuring that its goals were met.He stated that the NAP was ex­pected to guide businesses in align­ing their operations with interna­tional human rights standards and foster a more just and equitable business environment in Ghana.The Commissioner of CHRAJ, Dr Joseph Whittal, described the National Action Plan as a "refer­ence point" for country's coordi­nated efforts to prevent, mitigate and provide remedies for human rights abuses associated with busi­ness operations.According to him, Ghana's jour­ney toward the development of the NAP was initiated during the 3rd Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) under the United Nations Human Rights Council.During that review, he said government accepted a recommen­dation to integrate the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights into national frameworks, especially in areas such as the licensing of extractive industries.Dr Whittal highlighted that the process was inclusive and far-reaching, adding that the Steering Committee adopted a human-rights based approach and engaged stakeholders in all sixteen regions.The Commissioner expressed pride in the scope and depth of the consultation process, stating, "I believe Ghana's NAP is the best so far in Africa."CHRAJ, mandated to coordinate and monitor implementation, was seeking support from stakeholders to establish a fully equipped NAP Implementation Secretariat.He commending development partners including United Nations Development Programme, Japan, UNICEF, and Oxfam Ghana for their continued support. BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA