CDD launches abridged version of NRC Report

Kumasi, Dec. 1, GNA - Mr Anthony Osei-Poku, President of the Ashanti regional branch of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has expressed concern about the use of serial callers by some political parties and politicians to insult their opponents on the airwaves. He said the phenomenon of serial calling, which was steadily gaining roots on the airwaves, if not halted, could bring chaos and confusion in the country.

Mr Osei-Poku was speaking at a public education forum to launch the popular version of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) Report in Kumasi on Thursday.

The abridged report, which has also been translated into some of the local dialects, is an effort by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and the Civil Society Coalition on NRC to make the report available and accessible to many Ghanaians to read and know its contents.

Mr Osei-Poku expressed regret that some leading politicians were using serial callers who called from one radio station to another to insult their political opponents.

He called on Ghanaians to speak against the practice and discourage it before it got out of hands.

Mr P H Mensah, Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said the revelations at the Commission's sittings and the contents in the report should serve as a wake up call to all Ghanaians to make it a point not to repeat such atrocities.

He called for a concerted effort by all to protect the Constitution and be tolerant to dissenting views to ensure unity in the society. Mr Mensah called on civil society groups and the media to make it their agenda to publicize the contents of the report to enable the majority of Ghanaians to know it.

Mr Amofa Krah, ex-Zonal Manager of the NRC in-charge of Ashanti and Eastern regions, called for respect for each other in society. He called on the civil society to assist the government to implement the recommendations in the report and compensate victims in order to reduce pain and agony in them.

Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatia IV, Bantamahene, who represented the Asantehene, appealed to the people who had been entrusted with responsibilities not to abuse and use their positions to intimidate the very people who entrusted them with such responsibilities. 01 Dec. 05