CODEO aims to curb political party vigilantism

CODEO aims to curtail the growing menace of political security groups

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has ended its nationwide engagements with interest parties on political party vigilantism with the aim to curtail the growing menace of political security groups.

The private securities, in recent times, have been reported to have ceased state properties, forced some public officers out of their duty posts and interrupted some court proceedings, which attracted widespread public condemnation.

CODEO said in a statement signed by its national coordinator Albert Arhin on Thursday that the Coalition had so far engaged stakeholders in nine regions of the country with the last engagement taking place in Greater Accra Region.

“This series of public engagements are part of CODEO’s post-2016 election activities, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID),” CODEO said.

“The nationwide engagements are in recognition of the dangers that political party vigilante groups pose to the country’s electoral politics and democratic development,” it added.

He explained that the engagements took the form of round tables, focus group discussions and special media briefings.

After the final round of engagements, the statement said, “CODEO will share its findings with the public and plan advocacy efforts on political party vigilantism in the country”.

“The advocacy and other interventions will be used as an avenue to encourage and sustain discussions on the menacing effects of vigilante groups in Ghana’s political system”.

“CODEO’s partner institutions will also use the outcomes of the engagements to conduct civic and voter education, as well as advocate to disband political party vigilantes in Ghana’s electoral system.”

The coalition is dedicated to promoting free, fair, transparent and credible elections through nonpartisan election observation.

It is made up of 42 professional, faith-based and civil society organizations and has been independently and credibly observing elections in Ghana since 2000.