Govt. extends rights probe period under opposition pressure

Ghana's government Tuesday presented before parliament a proposal to probe human rights violations committed since independence from British rule in 1957, following opposition pressure to extend the original deadline.

The amended proposal came after President John Kufuor's government was roundly slammed by the opposition for originally limiting the timeframe to cover only the rule of Kufuor's predecessor Jerry Rawlings.

The president, who took power in January ending 19 years of rule by Rawlings, has mooted a South Africa-style National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) to investigate extra-judicial killings, detention and confiscation of property.

The avowed objective, outlined in Kufuor's maiden speech to parliament, is to try to heal political and social wounds.

The 13-page proposal unveiled in parliament Tuesday said the "object of the commission is to seek to promote national reconciliation among the people of this country."

It said the commission would try to establish "an accurate, complete and historical record of violations and abuses of human rights ... since the attainment of independence on March 6, 1957 to the inauguration of the fourth republic on January 7, 1993."

There were two original proposed periods of investigation -- from June 4, 1979 -- when Rawlings first seized power -- to 23 September 1979, when he handed charge to an elected civilian government; and from December 31, 1981, when he staged a second coup until February 6, 1993, when he ended military rule.

Rawlings legitimized his rule through democratic elections in 1992, and had to step aside in January after serving out the maximum two four-year terms allowed by the constitution he brought in under domestic and international pressure.

According to human rights groups, Rawlings' 19-year rule witnessed at least 200 extra-judicial killings and saw hundreds of people detained indefinitely without trial.

The proposed National Reconciliation Commission will have seven members appointed by Kufuor in consultation with the Council of State -- an advisory body.

A spokesman for Rawlings' party Tuesday cautiously welcomed the amended proposal.

"We think this is a healthy development. This is what should have been done in the first place," he said.

The orginal proposal had Rawlings' supporters alleging a witchhunt by Kufuor.

A source in Kufuor's office told AFP: "The president is someone who listens. We have now opened the window frames wider and longer in time."