NRC proposes a reparation fund for victims

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.

Driver jailed for 10 years for rendering service to the State

Accra, Aug. 26, GNA - Mr Kwame Agbavor, a driver from Dzodze, on Tuesday told the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) that he suffered 10 years' imprisonment for rendering service to the State. He said he was convicted to 10 years' imprisonment at Nsawam Prison in October 1982 for accepting to convey six boxes of cutlass from Dzodze to Akanu in the Volta Region, adding that he served the full term before he was released.

The Witness said while in prison his Toyota Cargo Truck and a Datsun 120J were seized by the Police and were never returned to him. Mr Agbavor said the cutlasses were seized by some Policemen from smugglers in a bush near Dzodze and one of them Corporal Dewornu asked him to convey them to Akanu Police Station since he was travelling to Aflao.

He said he delivered the cutlasses at Akanu but three days after he had returned from Aflao to Dzodze, a Policeman, Sergeant Gbemu came to his residence to find out why he sent the cutlasses to the Akanu Police Station.

Mr Agbavor said Sergeant Gbemu took his (Agbavor's) car, drove to Akanu to collect the cutlasses and asked him to report at the Ho Mortar Regiment.

The Witness said at the Ho Mortar Regiment the Police asked him about the owner of the cutlasses adding that he told them Corporal Dewornu asked him to convey them to Akanu. Mr Agbavor said three days later he went to the Ho Mortar Regiment to collect his car from Sergeant Gbemu.

A month later one Crime Officer Adjayibor came to his residence with a Police car and took him to the Ho Police Station where he spent four days.

He said he was later taken to the Castle and handed over to the soldiers there. He was later sent to the State House then to the Cantonment Police Station where he stayed in custody for five months before being taken to the tribunal.

The Witness said the tribunal chaired by Mr Agyekum told him he had smuggled the six cartons of cutlasses adding that, even though, Corporal Dewornu testified at the tribunal that he ordered Agbavor to convey the cutlasses, the tribunal went ahead to sentence him to 10 years' imprisonment.

Mr Agbavor said nothing was done to Corporal Dewornu. While in prison Crime Officer Adjayibor went to his house to seize his cargo truck and Datsun car that were later brought to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters.

Mr Agbavor said Mr Appiah Menka and Mr Kwame Piani tried to retrieve his vehicles for him but they were not successful. He said on his return from prison he went to the State house to demand his vehicles only to be told they were no where to be found adding: "I was informed Jack Bebli was using my Datsun before it disappeared."

The Witness said as a result of his imprisonment and the seizure of his vehicles, his children stopped schooling and became truants adding that two of his three wives deserted him leaving his first wife.

He noted that due to the treatment meted out to him and majority of the people in the Volta Region, he and his family including others were now staunch members of the New Patriotic Party. When Mrs Sylvia Boye asked the witness about the party he was formerly with, he said he did not associate himself with any party. 26 Aug. 2003