Disband all vigilante groups in Ghana – Right Alliance to Akufo-Addo

A non-profit civil society organization, Right Alliance-Ghana, is appealing to the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to as a matter of urgency, disband and disarm all vigilante groups in the country, including the Azorka boys and Invincible Forces, in the NDC and NPP respectively.

In their view, since the 1992 Constitution of the Republic completely frowns on the formation of private security groups without the sanction of the State, allowing the operation of vigilante groups will be detrimental to the country.

“The 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which is the supreme law of the land, stipulates in Articles 200 (2) and 210 (2) that no person or authority shall raise any private army, police force or militia except by or on the authority of an Act of Parliament.”

“We of the Right Alliance-Ghana believe a total disbandment of all vigilante groups is in the best interest of the nation and should be done without further delay,” the organization noted in a statement signed jointly signed by its Chairman and Director of Communications, Dr. Khadel Mahama and King Khorby.

Below is the full statement:

 WE NEED ALL VIGILANTE GROUPS DISBANDED AND DISARMED!

The Right Alliance-Ghana has noted with alarm developments that may have contributed in no small way to the Kintampo waterfall disaster that claimed about 20 lives and left several others severely injured.

The Chief of Kyeremankoma where the tragedy occurred, Nana Effah Guarkuro, in an interview with the media, disclosed that following the declaration of the 2016 Election results on December 9 last year, the local chapter of the Invincible Forces, a New Patriotic Party vigilante group, stormed the waterfall and took over its administration, driving away the District Assembly officers in charge.

It may therefore be a situation of inexperienced, unskilled neophytes managing the place that led to the disaster.

While consoling the families of the deceased and wishing the injured speedy recovery, the Right Alliance-Ghana condemns the action of the Invincible Forces that has obviously deprived the tourist site of competent and skilled management.

Under the circumstances, we cannot hide our utmost disgust at the immediate past administration of the National Democratic Congress’s failure to supervise the complete and effective disbandment and disarming of the Invincible Forces as well as all other vigilante groups even though the Police administration made a lot of noise about it under their watch.

It should be noted that during the incident in front of the then NPP flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo’s residence, one of them actually pointed a gun in the face of the Commander of the anti-terrorism squad and got away with it.

This may have emboldened them and made them more brazen, hence the violent and unlawful takeover of public property, including the Kintampo Waterfalls, in the wake of the Party’s electoral victory. Considering that members of the Invincible Forces have taken over the School Feeding programme in some districts and are occupying some other public facilities and even state bungalows it may not be long until their nefarious activities lead to another national disaster.

The Right Alliance-Ghana therefore fervently appeals to President Akufo Addo to, as a matter of urgency, see to the complete disbandment and disarming of all vigilante groups in the country including the Invincible Forces.

After all, the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which is the supreme law of the land, stipulates in Articles 200 (2) and 210 (2) that no person or authority shall raise any private army, police force or militia except by or on the authority of an Act of Parliament.

We of the Right Alliance-Ghana believe a total disbandment of all vigilante groups is in the best interest of the nation and should be done without further delay.   #Long Live the Right Alliance-Ghana! #Long Live the Fourth Republic! #Long Live Ghana!   Signed  Dr. Khadel Mahama Chairman, the Right Alliance-Ghana   King Khorby Director of Communications, the Right Alliance- Ghana