The work of the NRC so far ...

In 28th – 30th Jan. 2002 issue of this paper we had the opportunity of reacting to a list of the names which had been published in the Statesman purporting to be the names of the nine members of the National Reconciliation Commission. The paper at that time protested against the inclusion of some persons. The government on Thursday 11 April 2002, announced the membership of the Commission.

In protesting against some members of the Commission we stated as follows: “In taking this position we wish to remind all and sundry that we are not by any means doubting the credentials and the integrity of any of the persons. We are rather worried because of people’s perception about some of the people which might creates doubt about their impartiality. After all in even judicial process, a judge sitting on a case if he or she is likely to be biased”. In objecting to the membership of Gen. Erskine we stated.

“Gen Erskine is not only a Senior Army Officer, but a politician who was a presidential candidate in the 1992 presidential elections as well as a member of the Committee that was set up to see to the reburial of the Senior military officers who were the victims of the June 4 Uprising. Needless to say that his public utterances on the event and the PNDC era are known to all”.

We concluded, “As a Senior Army officer nobody can expect him to be sympathetic towards any junior officer who staged the June 4 uprising”. Inspite of our misgivings we were prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, but his performance on the Commission so far has convinced us that he is not the type of person who must continue take part in the activities of the Commission.

To start with, we doubt whether he really understands the mission of the Commission. To him the Commission is a court of law otherwise he would not have said and acted in the way he did when Col. Frank Bernasko (rtd) appeared before the Commission. Certainly no objected-minded Ghanaian can forgive him for that singular act. Again, how come that he saluted a junior officer who did not came to narrate how his rights had been abused but used the platform of the Commission to pour scorn on the former President at a point describing him as a ‘Bastard’ and indicated how he could be got rid off?

Indeed as a member of the Commission, he is quoted as having blamed past military coups for the economic woes of the country. But, the worrying aspect is what role Gen. Erskine played in relation to the 1966 and 1972 coups. It is our view that this must come from Gen. Erskine himself, in the spirit of national reconciliation. What people do know is whether he took active part in the planning of the two coups mentioned particularly the bloody 1966 coup which saw the callous shooting of Brig. Bawa and the wickedness of a bloody thirsty military leader who killed over 100 Ghanaians including civilians who he lined up at Flagstaff House, after their surrender, within a matter of some minutes.

Said that military leader in a question put to him by the Legon Observer “That thing called the CPP was evil, its ideology and all those who made the CPP, what it was were evil. I feel bitter when I talk- about it. Some-times I wonder if the Ministers did not escape too lightly. They must thank Harley that a t least some of them were not killed.” This was a person who was even awarded an honourary doctorate degree by the University of Ghana. We appeal to the conscience of Gen. Erskine to voluntarily withdraw his membership of the Commission and disclose to Ghanaian his role in the 1966 and 1972 coups and seek proper education from the Executive Secretary of the Commission what it is about.

In the meantime, a cross section of the population think that in the light of what was said by the Chairman of the commission with regard to his reckless statement in relation to the evidence provided by commissioner Wulakanki. Certainly many consider the statement by the Chairman as ‘a prejudicial statement. They think that it casts doubt on the impartiality of the Members of the Commission. The general view is that the conduct of the commissioners themselves will determine the fate of the Commission. Therefore the statement coming from the heart of the Chairman himself is really worrying.