President Signs Reconciliation Bill, NDC Disappointed

President Kufuor has disregarded the petition by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to take a second look at the National Reconciliation Bill. Senior Minister, J.H. Mensah announced that the President gave his assent to the bill last week.

The National Reconciliation Bill was passed by Parliament without the NDC minority, who had walked out of the House and the party petitioned the President to delay his assent in order to consider the concerns they had raised.

The NDC had argued among other issues that for genuine reconciliation to take place, all human rights abuses committed from 1957 when the country obtained independence and 1992 when the country returned to constitutional rule should be investigated.

The NPP however argued that the commission should investigate only abuses committed during military regimes with a ‘window of opportunity’ for those who suffered abuses outside military regimes. The President however announced last week that he sees nothing wrong with the bill that was passed by Parliament. Mr. Mensah noted that the passage of the bill into law will bring Ghanaians together and accelerate the development process in the country.

NDC Disappointed

The National Democratic Congress has expressed disappointment at President Kufuor’s assent to the Reconciliation Bill into law. The party says the passage of the bill without regard for their concerns has eroded the credibility and independence of the commission.

The NDC, which proposed among other issues that the commission be mandated to investigate abuses to from 1957 is convinced that the commission will neither be national or reconciliatory considering the terms of reference under, which the bill was passed.

The NDC ranking spokesperson on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni told JOY FM that the failure of President Kufuor to heed the NDC petition rather sends a wrong signal to Ghanaians. He described a clause in the bill, which gives exclusive rights to the commission to hear victims of violations since 1957 as unconstitutional and discriminatory.

President Kufuor has disregarded the petition by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to take a second look at the National Reconciliation Bill. Senior Minister, J.H. Mensah announced that the President gave his assent to the bill last week.

The National Reconciliation Bill was passed by Parliament without the NDC minority, who had walked out of the House and the party petitioned the President to delay his assent in order to consider the concerns they had raised.

The NDC had argued among other issues that for genuine reconciliation to take place, all human rights abuses committed from 1957 when the country obtained independence and 1992 when the country returned to constitutional rule should be investigated.

The NPP however argued that the commission should investigate only abuses committed during military regimes with a ‘window of opportunity’ for those who suffered abuses outside military regimes. The President however announced last week that he sees nothing wrong with the bill that was passed by Parliament. Mr. Mensah noted that the passage of the bill into law will bring Ghanaians together and accelerate the development process in the country.

NDC Disappointed

The National Democratic Congress has expressed disappointment at President Kufuor’s assent to the Reconciliation Bill into law. The party says the passage of the bill without regard for their concerns has eroded the credibility and independence of the commission.

The NDC, which proposed among other issues that the commission be mandated to investigate abuses to from 1957 is convinced that the commission will neither be national or reconciliatory considering the terms of reference under, which the bill was passed.

The NDC ranking spokesperson on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni told JOY FM that the failure of President Kufuor to heed the NDC petition rather sends a wrong signal to Ghanaians. He described a clause in the bill, which gives exclusive rights to the commission to hear victims of violations since 1957 as unconstitutional and discriminatory.