General News of Sunday, 2 March 2003

Source: gna

Reconciliation Commission not court of law

The Director of Public Affairs of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) Ms Annie Anipa on Saturday said the NRC is neither a law court nor a tribunal to determine who is innocent or guilty.

She said the Commission is rather a fact-finding body that is why it has created a counselling and victim support unit.

Ms Anipa said this at a durbar organised by the zonal Office of the Commission at Cape Coast to educate the public on the work of the NRC.

She said the focus of the Commission is to establish whether there has been a violation or abuse, the nature of the abuse and the pattern of the abuse and also to establish whether the event occurred as alleged.

Ms Anipa explained in details the functions of the commission to the people.

In an address read for him, the Central Regional Minister, Mr. Isaac Edumadze emphasised that the NRC is neither partisan nor is it the mouthpiece of any political party.

"Consequently, the attempt by certain sections of the society to label it as such, must be checked forthwith. I would like to appeal to all those who are in doubt to give the NRC the chance to do its work without fear or favour''.

The Regional Minister said that peace is the greatest asset for all mankind, therefore, Ghanaians must do their best to maintain the relative peace and stability the country.

"Let us try to keep our nation devoid of violence, mayhem and antagonism", adding the reconciliation exercise must be seen as one of surest ways of fostering unity and tolerance among Ghanaians.

The Zonal office has so far recorded 668 cases involving death, human right abuse, wrongful dismissals of which 150 of them are from the Central Region.

The Very Reverend Emmanuel Williams. Dean of the Christ of Anglican Church, Cape Coast who spoke on behalf of the clergy said reconciliation is very important for the development of the country.

He said as a nation we can only move ahead when there is peace but it is through forgiveness that peace could prevail.