NRC resumes hearing in Accra

Accra, Sept. 30, GNA - The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) resumed public hearing in Accra on Tuesday and would, during the week hear cases filed from the Eastern Region and others filed in Accra. Subsequently, the Commission would continue to hear cases filed across the country as well as receive statements and petitions at its headquarters till the expiry of its one year mandate on January 13, 2004.

A statement issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the Commission in Accra said in-camera hearings would be held from October 27 to 30, 2003 and then from December 8 to 11 2003.

To date, the Commission had received approximately 4000 complaints but in view of the numbers involved, it may not be in a position to hear all the complaints it had received, the statement said.

However, the Commission assured all statement makers and petitioners that each complaint would be given due consideration and appropriate recommendations made in the report it would submit. "In this regard, persons who still wish to submit petitions to the Commission are advised to submit their statements ahead of the January 2004 deadlin,e" it added.

As contained in Section 20 of the NCR Act 611, the Commission would prepare and submit to the President a report on its work within the mandated three-month period.

The report would, among other things, provide proper documentation and establish the nature and causes of the serious violations and abuses of the human rights of persons.

It would also identify the victims of abuses and recommend the appropriate response to the specific needs of each victim or group of victims.

Since the beginning of the public hearings on January 14, 2003, the Commission had held hearings in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi. In all, 682 persons have appeared before it with 659 heard in public and 23 heard in camera.