National Reconciliation Bill Goes to House next week

The National Reconciliation Bill would be laid in Parliament on Tuesday next week.

The Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, which is to consider the Bill would organise public hearings in selected regional centres throughout the country from October 2 to 16 to ensure sufficient public discussion.

Announcing this, Mr J. H. Mensah, the Majority Leader and Minister of Government Business, while presenting the Business Statement of the House for next week, said details of the public hearing were being worked out.

Mr Cletus Avoka, NDC-Bawku West, commenting on the statement said the government should set up a national forum to discuss the reconciliation issue and that there was no need to rush the Bill to Parliament.

He said the Bill needed "a lot of meat" to help Parliament in its debate and for a good law to be passed.

Replying Mr Mensah said, "we have been talking about this reconciliation issue for the past three years and the radio stations have been discussing it.

"It is time for government to present a Bill on the issue". Mr Modestus Ahiable, NDC-Ketu North, said the Bill should be presented within a timeframe so that it could meet the constitutional demand that a Bill matures for consideration three months after it has been laid.

The Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey said everything possible would be done to make the Bill meet the constitutional requirements.

During the week, the Ministers of Roads and Highways, Finance, Health, Environment, Science and Technology and Energy will respond to questions from the legislators.