Reverend Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong,General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana
The overly politicization of the country’s security agencies is to blame for the upsurge in vigilantism in the country according to the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana Reverend Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong.
He observes that most of them for fear of being victimized always kowtow to the whims and caprices of the politicians who appointed them and are scared they could easily be removed if they fail to adhere to their beck and call.
“I wish that the heads of the various security agencies are given a term of office and irrespective of the government in power, the head will be maintained until his tenure elapses. This way the person can act without fear or favour and nib crime in the bud”, he stated.
Reverend Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong indicates that until the security agencies and their heads are allowed to operate independently and deal with crime clothed in political colours, the country is heading to a crash.
Contributing to the recent conduct of pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) vigilante groups, Delta Force and Invincible Fore, the Man of God expressed worry that members of some of these groups see themselves as untouchable because they have the backing of influential persons in power.
“It is a disgrace to the country where the rule of law works. If you disagree with an issue you go to court but if courts are now attacked then it is shameful and disgraceful. Members of the group claimed they helped party to come to power and needed to be catered because they were promised. These are strictly party issues should not cross the lines of attacking state institutions. They should go to the person who promised them to redeem his pledge and not state institutions”, he advised.
He stated that some influential persons could be sponsoring vigilante groups and must accept responsibility for their actions which is could repel investors considering how they were flouting the country’s laws with impunity.
“We cannot blame these boys for the raid. Those we need to blame are the big men behind these boys. They buy food for them, they clothed them, they do everything for them and so they need to be blamed and not the members because they are only doing what their pay masters have ordered them to do,” he added.
