Dan Lartey's NRC comment unwarranted - Anipa

Ms Annie Anipa, Director of the Public Affairs Secretariat of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) on Tuesday said a statement attributed to Mr Dan Lartey, founder of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) on the Commission was unwarranted and unnecessary in the wake of current political happenings.

Speaking in an interview in Accra, Ms Annipa said the invitation of former President Jerry Rawlings by the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) to clarify a statement, which was considered as bordering on national security and attributed to him, was in no way a human rights abuse.

Established by an Act of Parliament, Act 611, the NRC is currently taking statements and petitions from victims and witnesses of human rights violations in unconstitutional regimes of the country.

The unconstitutional periods named are from 24 February 1966 to 21 August 1969; 13 January 1972 to 23 September 1979; and 31 December 1981 and 6 January 1993. The

Commission, which has one year and three months to submit its report and recommendations to government, may on application by any person pursue the object of reconciliation in respect of human rights violation in any other period between 6 March 1957 and 6 January 1993.

According to Ms. Anipa, the NRC was set up to address specified times of human rights abuses and these violations were done on the quiet and the "Victims and people affected by the violations never had the chance to be heard. The invitation of the former President was public knowledge, and all Ghanaians now have a chance to express themselves," Ms Anipa said.

She said the work of the Commission was mandated by Parliament, and unless the Act was revoked by Parliament, the Commission would have to continue with its work.

The NRC Public Affairs Director said a number of the complainants felt relieved when they first appeared before the Commission to file their complaints.

She expressed the hope that they would be more relieved when victims met perpetrators at the public hearings and possibly apologised to.

She stressed that the Commission would not be retributive and would not facilitate victims to get their pounds of flesh of their perpetrators.

According to her, the Commission would ensure that adequate security at the public hearing to deal with any open confrontation between victims and perpetrators during the public hearings.

She said the Commission had as at Monday received 740 statements and complaints nationwide. The figures are as follows: 229 from the Kumasi zone office, Takoradi 81 Ho 42 Tamale 9 and 379 from Accra. Figures from Bolgatanga were yet to arrive.