Have courage to unfold truth of past abuses

Koforidua (Eastern Region) - A member of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), Bishop Charles Palmer-Buckle, has asked Ghanaians who knew about past human rights abuses to have the courage to come before the Commission to unfold them.

He regretted that some victims or witnesses were afraid to appear before the Commission to give evidence, which could help it record the abuses to forestall any future recurrence.

Bishop Palmer-Buckle, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Koforidua Diocese, was delivering the sermon at a church service at Koforidua to mark the feast of Pentecost during which he confirmed 161 members of the Church on Sunday.

He noted that Ghanaians need the Holy Spirit to give them the courage, fear of the Lord, love and understanding to render useful services to both others and the country's progress.

"We need the power of the Holy Spirit to refine the vices from us in order to witness Jesus Christ through upright lives required of us as Christians and to withstand the temptations of the devil in all aspects of our lives," the Bishop stated.

He referred to the incident about the late Mr Joseph Ampah who collapsed and died while giving evidence at the NRC last Thursday, and hoped he, like other victims of human rights violations, he would forgive their perpetrators in order to promote the national healing and reconciliation the nation urgently required to move forward.