Bechem, Aug. 26, GNA – The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) will include in its final report to the government a recommendation to set up a reparation fund to take care and address the needs and interests of victims who have lost breadwinners and properties.
Ms Annie Anipa, Director of Public Affairs of the NRC said in response to a question on measures being put in place for victims from a member of the public at a day’s public forum on victims’ mobilization and public education on national reconciliation at Bechem in Brong Ahafo.
The forum, a collaborative programme by the Centre for Democratic Development/Civil Society Coalition on National Reconciliation, the NRC and Tano District Assembly, aimed at educating the public on the work of the Commission and its importance to national development.
Ms. Anipa announced that scholarships would be given to young children of victims to enable them to continue with their education or acquire employable skills.
The Commission will organize public forums to discuss how funds could be organized for this purpose since the government alone cannot provide the funds, she added and urged charitable organizations, religious bodies and individuals to contribute generously towards the proposed reparation fund.
The Public Affairs Director expressed the hope that the public would accept and support the fund in good faith, disclosing that some charitable organizations and religious bodies had started donating both cash and in kind, such as wheel chairs, directly to some affected people or through the NRC.
Ms Anipa reiterated that the Commission was set up to contribute to justice and accountability and to promote reconciliation as well as to reduce tension resulting from the country’s sordid past but not to punish perpetrators.
On the question of some victims feeling dissatisfied with the work of the Commission and therefore, seeking redress in court, Ms Anipa said victims could do so, “but cannot use statements made at the Commission’s sittings as evidence in court”.
She urged people to learn to forget about the past so they could move on with present and future development issues.
Mr Richard Apronti, member of CDD/Civil Society on National Reconciliation said zonal offices of the NRC would be closed by August 31 this year and victim mobilization and support committees would be set up in the districts for victims to have their cases heard.
The committees have become necessary in order to cut down on the travelling expenses of victims from their destinations to Accra to write their statements, as the committees would be trained to do so and forward their reports to the NRC in Accra.
Source: GhanaWeb
