NRC To Help Nation Regain Lost Soul - Kufuor

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday said the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) was not for vindictiveness but an exercise to recapture the country's lost soul and for the people to move together as one.

He said since independence, the country had undergone sad and unfortunate experiences as a result of which it had lost its spirit of showmanship and wealth. It is to regain its soul that government found it necessary to launch the NRC.

"Government had sworn to respect the human rights of Ghanaians and the NRC was to recapture the soul of the country and move together as one people," he added.

President Kufuor said this when a seven-member delegation from the Western Regional House of Chiefs paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.

He said the reconciliation exercise was not for petty political gains but or those who were maltreated or suffered human rights abuses to come forward and those who perpetrated these deeds to show remorse in order that all and sundry would move ahead together.

President Kufuor said government would not relent in its efforts at developing all parts of the country. He said government would never use intimidation, vote buying or any means or malpractice to induce the people. "Government will never do such a thing but will continue with development projects in all parts of the country. Let it be so and let anyone complain."

President Kufuor said about 95 per cent of the Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputies had been appointed members of government for the first time and would need some time to settle down and work efficiently. He therefore appealed to chiefs to transfer their experiences to them in their activities and at the national level.

Kasapreko Kwame Bassanyi III, Omanhene of Wassa Akropong Traditional Area and President of the House, who led the delegation, expressed appreciation to the government in its socio-economic development efforts to improve the living standards of the people.