National Reconciliation Commission Doors Open Sept. 3

The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) has invited members of the public who have suffered any form of injustice by the State or Public Officials during periods of unconstitutional government to lodge their complaint or present a petition at its offices in Accra or its zonal offices in Takoradi, Ho and Kumasi from the 3rd of September this year.

A statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Kenneth Attafuah and issued to the press yesterday in Accra said persons who wish to appear before the Commission should have suffered "injury, hurt, damage or grievance, or persons who have in any other manner been adversely affected by violations and abuses of their human rights".

The statement said all those who have any knowledge of violations and abuses of human rights relating to killings, abductions, disappearances, detentions, torture, ill treatment and seizure of properties suffered by any person during the periods of unconstitutional government could also call at the Commission.

The specified periods of unconstitutional government, the statement said, are: 24th February 1966 to 21st August 1969, 13th January 1972 to 23rd September 1979 and 31st December 1981 to 6th January 1993.

Furthermore, it said, "the Commission requests any person who wishes to lodge a complaint or petition with the Commission in respect of violations or abuses of human rights which occurred outside the periods of unconstitutional government and between 6th March 1957 and 6th January 1993 to lodge such complaint or present such petition at its offices".

The Commission's offices are open from 8:30a.m - 12.30p.m and from 1:30p.m - 5:00p.m with effect from September 3rd 2002.

The offices of the Commission are located at Independence Square Building in Accra; House No. H1/A, Medical Village Road, Awatidome, off Ho-Keta Road in Ho; Freeman Centre for Leadership Development, Directly Opposite Wesley College on the Old Tafo Road in Kumasi and in Takoradi at the Former GNTC (R.T. Briscoe) Building, above Ghana Commercial Bank, Market Circle Branch, Kitson Avenue.

The statement said the location of the zonal offices in Bolgatanga and Tamale will be announced later.