Reconciliation commission should represent both sides

The Joint Anglican Diocesan Council (JADC) of Ghana has suggested that members of the Reconciliation Commission to be set up should be drawn from both sides of the political divide.

In a 10-point communiqu? which touched on most aspects of national life adopted at the end of its meeting at Bolgatanga, the JADC said members of the Commission should be "people of real proven accountability and probity."

While the resolution welcomed the government's decision to reconcile the country, it added, however, that true reconciliation must embrace the act of forgiveness.

The communiqu?, signed by the Right Reverend Thomas Brient, JADC Presiding Bishop, also asked Ghanaians to strive for peace at all times and live in harmony with one another, saying that any acts of indiscipline and adventurism should be nipped in the bud to protect the country's young democracy.

"We condemn in no uncertain terms terrorism in all its forms. We urge all governments and non-governmental organisations to help in uprooting terrorism from the face of the world," the communiqu? added.

It described the government's efforts to equip the Police and other security agencies to enhance their performance as a step in the right direction, adding that all Ghanaians must help to lift the nation up. On the national economy, the communiqu? praised the government's fiscal policies that had resulted in the relative stability of the value of the cedi against major international currencies.

It, however, urged the government to continue with pragmatic policies to lower the rate of inflation to make the average Ghanaian get the real economic benefits.

The communiqu?' asked the government to adopt appropriate measures to lift agriculture and to add value to all exportable raw materials to enable the sector contribute more to the country's Gross Domestic Product.

"We must produce more for home consumption and for export to maximise our foreign exchange earning."

The Communiqu? also touched on health issues, especially the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which it said was real and frightening. It said the church would continue to preach abstinence as the only solution to the disease and also for schools to double their efforts at moral education.

It appealed to the government to speed up the process of handing over the management of schools and colleges to the religious bodies that established them.

The communiqu? also condemned social and evil practices such as rape, defilement, armed robbery, murder and such vices.

"We appeal to all well meaning Ghanaians to help put an end to such evil and shameful practices," it added.

The Joint Anglican Diocesan Council of Ghana comprises the dioceses of Accra, Cape Coast, Koforidua-Ho, Kumasi, Sekondi, Sunyani and Tamale.