NRC presents Report to Government

Accra, Oct.12, GNA - The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) on Tuesday presented their Report to the Government at the Castle, Osu. The Report in five volumes included the Executive Summary, Summaries on Petitions and Findings, Reforms necessary to make Ghana a better place to live in, Records of Findings of Institutions and Records of Proceedings on a CD ROM.

The Commission, which ended its 18-month public and in-camera hearings in Accra on Tuesday, July 13, was expected to submit its report to the Government within three months.

It started hearings on Tuesday, January 14 last year, received 4,311 petitions, and listed 2,129 for hearing.

The Commission also heard 79 respondents, who testified in respect of human rights violations charges made against them. Some admitted the allegations made against them and apologised and asked for forgiveness.

The nine-member Commission under the chairmanship of the Mr Justice Kweku Etru Amua-Sekyi, a Retired Supreme Court Judge, was established to seek and promote national reconciliation among Ghanaians.

It was to establish accurate, complete and historical record of violations and abuses of human rights inflicted on persons by public institutions and holders of public office or persons purporting to have acted on behalf of the State during periods of unconstitutional governments.

The periods were from February 24, 1966 to August 21, 1969; January 13, 1972 to September 23 1979; and December 31, 1981 to January 6 1993. The Commission was to make recommendations to President John Agyekum Kufuor for redress of wrongs committed within the specified periods.

Notwithstanding, the periods specified, the Commission was on an application by any person, to pursue the object set out in respect of any other period between March 6, 1957 and January 6, 1993.

Other members of the Commission were: Bishop Charles Palmer-Buckle, Catholic Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese; Maulvi Wahab Adam, Ameer and Head of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Ghana; Professor Abena Dolphyne, Former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon and Professor (Mrs) Henerietta Mensa-Bonsu of the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon.

The rest were: Dr Sylvia Boye, Former Registrar of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC); Mr Christian Appiah Agyei, Former General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC); General Emmanuel A. Erskine, Former Commander of United Nations International Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and Uborr Dalafu Labal II, Paramount Chief of Sangule.