President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked leadership of Ghana’s two major political parties to voluntarily disband their vigilante groups.
He made a passionate appeal to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to meet, preferably next week, to find ways of disposing of the groups.
The groups – among which are Invisible Forces, Delta Forces and Bolga Bull Dogs of the NPP and The Hawks and Azorka Boys of the NDC – have become a thorn in the flesh of citizens especially in the peak of political activism.
Some have visited violence on citizens immediately after the taking over of governance by the party they are affiliated with.
On Thursday, when he delivered the 2019 State of the Nation address in Parliament, President Akufo-Addo disclosed that he has asked the leadership of his party to invite their counterparts on the other side, NDC, to find ways to getting rid of the militias.
‘Worrying and unacceptable’
He said the security agencies will be on stand-by to help in these negotiations.
For him, the phenomenon of political vigilantism has become “worrying and unacceptable” given the latest case of the deadly shooting in Kumasi during an NDC meeting.
“If voluntary disbandment by the parties is not feasible, then I will initiate a legislation on the matter,” he warned.
“Vigorous debate and the exchange of ideas should be the true basis of political dialogue in our country, not activities of party vigilante groups.”
Source: 3news.com|Ghana