Disband vigilante groups – Mahama to Akufo-Addo

Former president John Mahama says President Akufo-Addo must lead the way in the fight against vigilantism by showing commitment to disband such groups within the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

According to Mr Mahama, Nana Akufo-Addo owes a duty as president to disband his “state-sponsored vigilante groups”.

He made the comment during his final meeting with delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Drobo in the Jaman South constituency in the Brong Ahafo region.

He said despite all political parties having macho men for the purposes of providing intra-party security, Nana Akufo-Addo is responsible for the introduction of vigilante groups in the country, adding that the NPP, with the president then as opposition leader, brought foreigners into the country to train NPP thugs.

The former president said the government is putting resources of the state at the disposal of its vigilante groups and other political parties are beginning to formulate a response.

Mr Mahama, however, pointed out that the NDC is committed to peaceful elections and would therefore not do anything to threaten nor breach the security of the state.

He also said the NDC has confidence in the state security agencies to provide security at its upcoming presidential primaries and will therefore not deploy any organised party security group for that purpose.