Ghana must take a cue from Nigeria’s experiences in vigilantism - Mission

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana, has appealed to the citizenry to give their all to ensure the success of the on-going national discourse and efforts being made by the government to ban vigilantism in all its forms.

“The greatest contemporary challenge to the sustenance of peace and Ghana’s stability is vigilantism,” Maulvi Alhaji Noor Mohammed Bin Salih, the Ameer and Missionary in charge of the Mission, observed.

“We should all be deeply involved in finding a lasting solution to this menace, since we are sitting on a time bomb which could explode into something nasty, if care is not taken,” he stated.

Addressing the closing session of the 25th Annual National Ramadan Conference in Kumasi, the Ameer drew attention to what had befallen some of the nation’s West African neighbours, Nigeria - where vigilantism had metamorphosed into full-blown terrorist activities.

“It is important that we do not allow just a few selfish people within the society to advance their own parochial interests, to the detriment of the security and safety of the people,” he said.

Maulvi Alhaji Mohammed Bin Salih, who was speaking on the topic “The Phenomenon of Vigilantism and its Menace in Ghana Politics”, asked political leaders to shun hypocrisy and come out clear on issues relating to vigilantism since they were partly to blame for its prevalence in the society.

Discussions on vigilantism recently, gained currency on the Ghanaian political landscape as the government initiated steps to ban such activities by putting before parliament, an Anti-Vigilantism Bill.

The Bill, laid before parliament on Thursday, 11 April, 2019, is seeking to disband political party-affiliated militia groups, when passed into law.

When the bill becomes law, vigilantism and related offences would be criminalised, making it dangerous for the youth to form such groups to gain political parties’ stamp.

The United Nations (UN) had offered to help Ghana uproot the canker by lending its support to the ongoing national efforts, led by the National Peace Council, to comprehensively address the phenomenon.

Ghana, the first country to have gained independence in sub-Saharan Africa in 1957, over the years has been noted for peaceful co-existence, unity and political stability.

It served as a beacon of hope for most African countries as regards democratic dispensation.



His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Nuhu Sharabutu, the National Chief Imam, in a speech read on his behalf, said the nation’s enviable political credentials were under threat due to vigilantism.

He warned the Muslim youth to stay clear of activities that had the tendency to throw the nation into turmoil.

This year’s Ramadan Conference had as its theme: “25 Years of Enhancing National Unity through Fasting - the Role of Muslim Ummah”.

It was organised under the auspices of the Office of the National Chief Imam and Council of Zongo Chiefs and Ulama, bringing together religious leaders from across the country to pray and also brainstorm on issues relating to the nation’s development and growth.