NRC sits in camera

Accra, July 29, GNA - The National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) on Tuesday began conducting in-camera hearings into human rights abuses. The in-camera hearings, which would run from Tuesday to Thursday, are the second since the Commission's public hearings began in January.

The first in camera hearings were held from April 28 to May 1, 2003.

The National Reconciliation Act, Act 611, grants the Commission the discretionary power to hold in-camera hearings for a good cause. Witnesses appearing in camera have a duty to preserve and assist in the preservation of the confidentiality of any matter, which the Commission may designate as confidential and to which such persons have become privy, including, in appropriate circumstances, the identity of Witnesses.

Where the Commission decides to hear a case in private, it has the power to direct that no information from the proceedings shall be made public.

Under the Act, a person shall not disclose the identity of a Witness in the proceedings and records of proceedings be kept in such a manner as to protect the identity of the Witness.

A decision by members of the Commission, using their collective wisdom and experience, to hear a case in private triggers a number of statutory obligations on members and staff of the Commission, as well as any other persons, who might be present at the private hearing.

The Commission might issue an order prohibiting the publication of any identifying characteristics of a Witness.

The Commission might "for good reason" direct the disclosure or publication of some information about the identity of a Witness or the proceedings.

This may be the case, for instance, where the Commission believed that such a publication was in the national interest.

After the camera hearing, the Commission would move to Sekondi from August 5 to August 15.

The venue for the Sekondi hearings would be the West African Examinations Council Hall.

Eighty-three cases of human rights violations, including killings, abductions, torture, ill treatment and seizure of property have been listed for hearing.

The Sekondi hearings would be the third time the NRC would be sitting outside Accra after Kumasi and Tamale.