The National Reconciliation Commission in Hindsight: An Evaluation of Impact

Abstract

Few studies in transitional justice rely on empirical data to interpret the outcome of truth commissions and to analyse the extent to which truth commissions impact transitional societies. In order to elucidate this aspect of transitional justice, this chapter examines the concepts of ‘impact’ and ‘success’ within transitional justice. It also designates criteria for assessing Ghana’s National Reconciliation Commission, which can be used for other truth commissions with minor contextual modifications. The established criteria form the basis for discussing the impact of the commission, using quantitative and qualitative data from a survey conducted by the author. The examination of the National Reconciliation Commission’s impact not only sheds light on the current perceptions held about the work of the commission in Ghana but also demonstrates how the use of empirical data helps to clarify the uncertainties about the impact of truth commissions.