NDC, NPP not committed to fighting vigilantism – Dr Aning

The Director-in-charge of Academics and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has expressed worry at the contradictory posture of Ghana’s two major political parties in dealing with vigilante groups.

He bemoaned that none of the two major political parties in the country has their stance on vigilantism stated in their manifestoes, to send a strong message out to these vigilante groups.

This, he said, empowers the groups with boldness, consistency and the ability to decentralise their activities across the country.

Dr Aning further emphasised the need to understand how people are recruited into these groups.

“We must link what is happening to the wider West African sub-region, understand the level of loyalty and methodology for induction of people into vigilante groups.”

Speaking at the third edition of the Accra Dialogue under the theme ‘The Scars of Vigilantism: A Legal or Political Question?’, the renowned security expert said vigilantism threatens the legal and political security of Ghana.

He, however, linked the issue of unemployment in the country to the rise in vigilante groups in the country.

According to Dr Kwesi Aning, the non-existence of jobs for the youth leads them to find alternative means of benefitting from the public purse since they do not have any means of livelihood.

Political vigilantism, he said, has bared its teeth in Ghana in recent times, and notable among the groups that have caused mayhem he recalled are Delta Force and Invisible Forces, affiliated to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Consequently, he underscored the need to pay particular attention to family systems as a country in order to raise kids that are not tempted to engage in violent activities.

The Accra Dialogue is a platform that was created three years ago by the Institute of Law and Public Affairs and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Ghana to bring together leading thinkers and practitioners to scrutinise key issues of national concern.

The programme sought to address the age-long issue of vigilantism in the country through a dialogue among practitioners in the area of security, law and governance.

Speakers took turns to discuss the issue of vigilantism, highlighting the threats and damages it has on Ghana, as well as proffering solutions on the way forward in dealing with the menace.

Taking his turn on the podium, Rev Prof Asante said vigilantism is a crime, hence the police ought to deal with those who attack people and destroy properties under the guise of vigilante groups.

The police, he averred, do not need a directive from the President or Minster of Interior to carry out their mandate.

He expressed belief that the security personnel ought to be more prudent in dealing with vigilante groups and not allow any interference in combating crime.

“There can be no order from above to undermine the combat of crime. Such an order undermines the rule of law,” he lamented.

On his part, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier-General (rtd) Joseph Nunoo-Mensah cautioned politicians to desist from making campaign promises they cannot fulfill.

He chastised the entire country for downplaying the impact of vigilante activities on the security of Ghana.

The former National Security Advisor, therefore, charged government, security agencies and the entire nation to remain resilient in tackling the issue and move beyond mere talk.

Another speaker was Dr. Seidu Alidu, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, who called on government to move beyond talks and take bold steps in curbing the menace.