Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, yesterday said the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) is not a court of law set up to try offenders but a body whose work must result in recommendations for redress to victims of human rights violations.
"The Commission is not a court and it is not mandated to impose penalties or sanctions on any person. Grounded in a victim-centred approach, the work of the Commission is expected to result in recommendations, in appropriate cases, for redress to victims of egregious human rights violations."
Nana Akufo-Addo was speaking at the opening of the public hearing session of the NRC at the Old Parliament House in Accra. Significantly, it was in the same hall where first President of Ghana Dr. Kwame Nkrumah moved his "Motion of Destiny" 46 years ago, for Ghana's independence from Britain.
In a sweltering refurbished hall, Nana Akufo-Addo said contrary to erroneous public perception that the work of the NRC is to ensure that vengeance was visited on perpetrators of human rights abuse, the Commission is mandated by law to investigate and establish the truth about allegations of such abuses and make recommendations for appropriate steps to be taken by the government and not the law to resettle the victims.
He, therefore, urged persons who would be invited to the hearing to disabuse their minds of seeking justice against offenders.
"The hearing should provide the opportunity for victims of the past human rights violations to tell their stories and for the public to acknowledge and empathize with their pain, suffering and hurt. It should also provide a forum for us to reflect on the past and resolve with one voice that never again shall this be allowed to happen."
He said the process is not aimed at witch-hunting as some have sought to create the impression, but it is to acknowledge publicly, that thousands of Ghanaians have paid a very high price in the struggle for the entrenchment of democracy and rejection of tyranny.
This, he said, was necessary to affirm the dignity of the victims and survivors and also forms an integral part of the healing of the entire Ghanaian society.
He said government would lend its total support to the Commission to discharge its obligation successfully, adding that the government would continue to remain committed to the independence of the Commission and allow it to work free till the end.
Mr Justice K. E. Amua-Sekyi, Chairman of the NRC in his opening remarks said the hearing session was not a law court, and no one particular regime is being put on trial.
"Every person who comes before the Commission comes as a witness to assist us to establish the record of human rights abuses which have taken place over the years. Act 611 gives the Commission the power to examine the record of abuse in the regimes other than the constitutional ones."
He said the sole aim of the members of the Commission is to promote national reconciliation, and they did not have "axes to grind, no bones to pick and no scores to settle with anyone".
Mr Justice Amua-Sekyi assured the public that NRC members would seek justice and pursue it at all cost. Present at the opening ceremony were the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice E. K. Wiredu, Ministers of States, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the clergy and members of the traditional councils.
