Disbandment of Party Militia: Akufo-Addo behaving like a 'rebel leader' - Otokunor

Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otokunor says President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is gradually losing his credibility as the leader of the country.

According to him, the President’s stance on the banning of vigilante groups in recent times has exposed him to be the “Commander in Chief of his party’s militia group”.

Peter Boamah Otokunor was discussing President Nana Addo’s refusal for mediators to be included in an attempt to end party militia – he said, the President is behaving like a “rebel leader”.

To the President, Ghana does not need external mediators to disband militia or vigilante groups within NPP and NDC.

The National Chairman of opposition NDC, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo had requested the Chairman of the Peace Council be appointed a mediator in the dialogue to disband vigilante groups while others had proposed the UN among others.

“In addition, in view of the often recurrent mistrust and suspicion that characterize such interactions by political parties, and the pain and suffering that vigilantism may have created especially in the recent past, it is of the utmost importance that a mediator with national credibility be appointed to drive the entire process. In that regard, my party, the NDC, propose that the National Peace Council be appointed as the mediator for such a meeting,” Ofosu-Ampofo stated in his letter to the President.

However, in a reply to the Chairman of the 'Umbrella' family, Akufo-Addo said he is “dismayed” about the suggestion since the two parties can dialogue over the issue.

“I am dismayed, and I believe that the Ghanaian people share my dismay, that the two parties who have dominated and continue to dominate the politics of the Fourth Republic, who between them have garnered at least 95% of the votes in each of the seven (7) general elections of the Fourth Republic, who have provided all seven (7) Governments of the Fourth Republic, who are the only parties currently represented in the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic, cannot meet to dialogue on matters of our nation’s governance and political culture, without the intervention of outsiders, including foreign entities, no matter how well-meaning,” Akufo-Addo stated in a reply to the NDC.

The deputy Chief Scribe of the NDC has however confirmed to NEAT FM’s morning show ‘Ghana Montie’ that the NDC has again written to the President insisting that there should be a mediator in the dialogue to disband vigilante group.

He was adamant to tell if the NDC will still join the dialogue progress if the President refuse the inclusion of mediators.

He opined the President ‘is in bed’ with his party militia – a reason why he is dragging the dialogue process.

“If the President is more interested to be the Commander in Chief for his party vigilante group, then he should step aside for that position so we deal with him as a rebel leader than a President. The President cannot stay in office and be controlling militia group, we will not allow that and its dangerous,” he told host Akwwesi Aboagye.