The government has presented to Parliament, a Legislative Instrument to
outlining how it intends to deal with political party vigilantism in the
country.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akuffo laid the legislation on behalf of the government.
President Akufo-Addo declared that his government will use legislation
to address political vigilantism if the two main political parties fail
to resolve it through dialogue.
The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye referred the L.I. to the
Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Committee, indicating that the
Attorney General and government had made an express request to have the
legislation considered under a certificate of urgency.
The Speaker thus asked the relevant committee to determine whether it is of an urgent nature or not.
“Honourable Members, with our Standing Order 119 in relation to the
urgency or otherwise of the Bill, for the purposes of its consideration
by Parliament, it is the prerogative of the relevant Committee of
Parliament…The House shall await the determination of the Committee on
Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs [on the Bill] tomorrow,
Friday 12th April 2019,” the Speaker read on the Floor of Parliament.
NPP, NDC agree to end Political Vigilantism
The two major political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
and New Patriotic Party (NPP) on the first day of the dialogue to end
political vigilantism which was mediated by the Peace Council,
emphasized the need to stop the activities of political vigilante groups
in the country.
The NPP and the NDC among other things also agreed to stop the
ownership. hiring and the utilization of vigilante and or militia groups
by political members.
The chairman of Tuesday’s meeting, Samuel Kwadwo Boateng Asante told
the media: “After an open and exhaustive deliberation, the parties
agreed that vigilantism is inimical to Ghana’s system and must be
eradicated.”
“Significantly, both parties agreed to engage in deliberations aimed at
:1. Disbanding vigilante groups operating within political parties or
for political purposes. 2. Prohibiting the ownership, hiring or
utilization of such groups by the political parties or members thereof;
3.Cooperating with state agencies and stakeholders in the total
eradication of such groups or incidence of vigilantism in the country,”
he added.
Legislation will not stop political vigilantism – Kwesi Anning
Security Analyst, Dr. Kwesi Aning in an interview with Citi News last
month expressed doubt with the potency of legislation in disbanding
political party vigilante groups.
According to him, the phenomenon which has become deeply rooted in the
country’s politics cannot simply be addressed with legislation.
“Legislation will just not end this process. It has gotten root in our
society, creates economic incentives and people use that. And therefore
we need a sober, long-term process in which we will create trust first,
come round the table start having the conversion and then begin a
dis-aggregation process of the specific issue areas that we need to
tackle. That takes a lot of time,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo in delivering his 2019 State of the Nation Address
in Parliament, said instructed the leadership of the New Patriotic
Party (NPP) which he belongs to, to extend an invitation to the
opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to discuss the disbandment
of their respective vigilante groups.
President Akufo-Addo said the phenomenon of political vigilantism has
the potential of destabilizing the country and reversing the democratic
gains the country has made over the years.
This was after some masked armed men fired at some residents near the
La Bawaleshie polling station during the Ayawaso West Wuogon
constituency.
Government presents L.I to tackle vigilantism to Parliament
