Reconciliation should involve all stakeholders- NDC MPs

The NDC Central Region Parliamentary Caucus on Monday suggested that membership of the proposed National Reconciliation Commission should comprise representatives of all stakeholders.

It should also be subject to the approval of parliament, and not "at the discretion of the President in consultation with the Council of State", as the bill provides.

The MPs described as "unacceptable" that provision in the bill, because according to them, "the Council of State itself is largely not an independent body, neither is the President non-partisan as he represents the Danquah/Busia tradition".

The parliamentary caucus made the call during the first in a series of quarterly meetings with the media at Cape Coast. The meeting was attended by four of the nine members of the caucus - Dr. Ato Quarshie, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Mr. Samuel Adu-Yeboah and Mr. Mike Hammah.

The MPs said the NDC is not against reconciliation, but stressed that the modalities have to be clear and all stakeholders must be consulted. They proposed that the commission should comprise three members of parliament representing the main political parties, a representative each of the national house of chiefs, the Christian and Muslim communities and NGOs.

The MPs reiterated the NDC's stand that the commission's mandate should cover all and not just the military regimes. They asked the government to let the people also know how much would be involved in the exercise, to determine " if it is justifiable to reconcile the nation that way" in the face of the current economic constraints.

Touching on issues in the region, the MPs renewed their call on the government to show commitment to its policy of zero tolerance for corruption by instituting a probe into the activities of the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM).

They alleged that the Institute of Chartered Accountants or any professional accounting body in the country does not know Mr. David Forster-Forson, the Executive Director and his company, Venture Consult, which audited CEDECOM.

They expressed concern that earlier representations made on the issue to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, have received no response.

The caucus called on the people of the region to rally behind them in their bid to ensure that all those found to have acted wrongfully are brought to justice. The MPs also called on the President to appoint a deputy regional minister as soon as possible.