Vigilantism is not a bad thing; constitution allows it – Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso

Security analyst, Dr Vladmir Antwi-Danso says vigilantism is backed by the constitution and as such it is not a bad thing.

He was however quick to add that it has become necessary to disband vigilantism in the country because it has been criminalized.

He added that none of the over 17 vigilante groups in the country has a positive motive.

“…Vigilantism per se is not a bad thing and the constitution allow vigilantism. In 1979 the late president Liman asked all of us to form vigilante in our small areas to help governance but wrongly it has taken a very wrong turn that is why we are all in hysteria. It is this hysteria that has made the president ask for the disbandment of vigilantism,” he said.

He said the interference of government in some institution is one of the major problems that allows vigilantism since such interference prevent these institutions from working effectively.

“Can we make institutionalism work in Ghana? Institutionalism and constitutionalism are the platforms upon which good governance thrive. We can have this bill but how is it going to be effective if it the same appointment of IGP and so on if the same statics maintain.”

Dr Vladmir Antwi-Danso suggested that a bill on vigilantism may not be necessary since we already have a criminal code.

“Do we really need a bill or can we rather beef up the lower side of those laws so that we are able to tackle the criminality because I think that the criminal code is so comprehensive that all these things can be subsumed under the criminal code. It is the lack of institutional capacity or will that is making vigilantism thrive” he added.

Meanwhile the ranking member for Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee Inusah Fuseini has stated that the vigilantism bill presented to parliament by the Attorney General lacks conceptual clarity.

According to him, the concept of the bill is not clear on how to solve the issue of vigilantism in the country.

He called for stakeholders’ make the necessary inputs into the bill to craft a veritable and robust legal framework to deal with the canker.