Parliament Passes Reconciliation Bill Despite Minority Walkout

Parliament has passed the National Reconciliation Commission Bill despite a minority NDC walkout at the time the proposed amendments to the bill were being considered on Friday. The members from the NPP majority side who occupied the half-empty chamber and sat through proceedings till about 8.30pm on Friday night also succeeded in tackling what remained of the House’s business for the rest of the year. Among others, the House approved provisional budget estimates totalling 3.4 trillion cedis to cover government expenditure until next year’s budget is approved in March.

The House also passed the Bank of Ghana Bill and adopted a resolution for government to enter into a $41 million loan agreement to finance housing development. But this year’s Parliamentary session ended on a sour note with the Minority staging a walkout about three hours before the end of the last day’s sitting. The walkout was motivated by disagreements over the National Reconciliation Commission Bill.

The National Reconciliation Commission Bill entered Parliament, cloaked in controversy. And now, as the bill awaits Presidential assent to become law that cloak still adorns it, perhaps with more colour. This is because the bill was passed with only the NPP Members of Parliament in the chamber.

The NDC members walked out having been denied the opportunity to read a statement after a major amendment they had proposed was rejected. With the rejected amendment proposal, the NDC side was suggesting that reconciliation commission should investigate the period between 1957 and 1993.

A counter NPP proposal, which was eventually accepted, stated that the commission should investigate any human right violations between 1957 and 1993 if it deems it necessary. Shortly after the walkout they called a press conference, addressed by the Member for Kumbugu, Mohammed Mumuni, who presented a text, prepared earlier in the day, apparently in anticipation of a walkout.

First deputy Speaker, Freddy Blay, who was presiding at the time of the walkout later told JOY FM that he took the right decision by denying the minority an opportunity to present at statement when amendments were being considered. According to him, the standing orders of the House prevent people from making statements after an issue has been put to vote.

Attorney General, Nana Akuffo Addo, says the walkout will not and should not be allowed to jeopardise the reconciliation exercise. The reconciliation process has suffered a lot of controversial moments so far but the real test lies in how the law awaiting Presidential assent will be used to heal wounds of the past and promote national unity.