The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) is expected to begin sitting by October this year. A statement to this effect will be made by the Chairman of the NRC tomorrow in Accra.
The nine-member Commission is tasked with investigating 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 military regimes in the country.
The Executive Secretary of the NRC, Dr. Ken Attafah told ADM that the Chairman of the NRC would address a press conference today to announce the date among other relevant issues.
The general public would be invited to file their petitions or grievances by September this year. Further, checks by the ADM reveals that the cases would be divided into the following: murder, breach of contract, human rights and confiscation among others.
Other objectives of the Commission which was established by Act 611 of the '92 Constitution will be to identify and specify the victims of violations and abuses and make appropriate recommendations for redress.The Commission would also seek to promote national reconciliation among Ghanaians by establishing accurate and complete historical records of violations and abuses of human rights inflicted on Ghanaians by people purporting to have acted on behalf of the state during periods of military rule.
The regimes which falls under the searchlight of the NRC are the eras of 4/02/66-21/08/69, 13/01/72-23/09/79 and 31/12/81-6/01/93. Unlike other reconciliation commissions such as the Oputa Commission of Nigeria the NRC has powers to subpoena. Article 13 (d) of the Act says, "the Commission shall have power to cause any person who refuses to comply with an order or directives of the commission or acts in any manner contemptuous of the Commission to be charged with contempt of court and for that person to be tried at the High Court."
It has twelve months to complete its work unless the President decides by executive instrument to extend the term of the Commission for a period not exceeding six months.
The Commission will be chaired by a retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Amua-Sakyi. Members of the Commission include the Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, Mt. Rev. Bishop Charles Palmer Buckle, the Ameer and Missionary of the Ahmadiya Muslim Mission, Maulvi Wahab Adam and the former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Florence Abena Dolphyne.
Others members Prof. Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu, a senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law,University of Ghana (UG), Dr. Sylvia Boye formerly of West African Examination Council(WAEC), one-time Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Christian Appiah-Adjei and former Commander of UNIFIL, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Erskine and the Paramount Chief of Sangulu in the Northern Region, Uborr Dalafu Labal II.
The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) is expected to begin sitting by October this year. A statement to this effect will be made by the Chairman of the NRC tomorrow in Accra.
The nine-member Commission is tasked with investigating 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 military regimes in the country.
The Executive Secretary of the NRC, Dr. Ken Attafah told ADM that the Chairman of the NRC would address a press conference today to announce the date among other relevant issues.
The general public would be invited to file their petitions or grievances by September this year. Further, checks by the ADM reveals that the cases would be divided into the following: murder, breach of contract, human rights and confiscation among others.
Other objectives of the Commission which was established by Act 611 of the '92 Constitution will be to identify and specify the victims of violations and abuses and make appropriate recommendations for redress.The Commission would also seek to promote national reconciliation among Ghanaians by establishing accurate and complete historical records of violations and abuses of human rights inflicted on Ghanaians by people purporting to have acted on behalf of the state during periods of military rule.
The regimes which falls under the searchlight of the NRC are the eras of 4/02/66-21/08/69, 13/01/72-23/09/79 and 31/12/81-6/01/93. Unlike other reconciliation commissions such as the Oputa Commission of Nigeria the NRC has powers to subpoena. Article 13 (d) of the Act says, "the Commission shall have power to cause any person who refuses to comply with an order or directives of the commission or acts in any manner contemptuous of the Commission to be charged with contempt of court and for that person to be tried at the High Court."
It has twelve months to complete its work unless the President decides by executive instrument to extend the term of the Commission for a period not exceeding six months.
The Commission will be chaired by a retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Amua-Sakyi. Members of the Commission include the Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, Mt. Rev. Bishop Charles Palmer Buckle, the Ameer and Missionary of the Ahmadiya Muslim Mission, Maulvi Wahab Adam and the former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Florence Abena Dolphyne.
Others members Prof. Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu, a senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law,University of Ghana (UG), Dr. Sylvia Boye formerly of West African Examination Council(WAEC), one-time Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Christian Appiah-Adjei and former Commander of UNIFIL, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Erskine and the Paramount Chief of Sangulu in the Northern Region, Uborr Dalafu Labal II.
