No Minister can stop the fight against vigilantism – Police declare

The Ghana Police Service says it will not allow political appointees to interfere in the fight against vigilantism which has reared its ugly head in the country involving some youth of the ruling government in recent times.

The declaration came on Monday by the Director General of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP) David Eklu on GBC’s Radio program behind the news.

Speaking with George Asigli, the host, ACP Eklu said though vigilantism is not the only criminal activity happening in the country, there has been the need for the Ghana Police Service to step up measures in effectively tackling the menace.

Vigilantism in the country has become a very problematic movement which political party commentators, social commentators and security experts all condemning the canker.

However, no political party both ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have challenged the allegations that, they own these vigilante groups.

In the security hierarchy in Ghana, the regional security councils are headed by the Regional Ministers, so as the District is headed by the Metropolitan, Municipal or District Chief Executives who are all appointees from the government formed by a political party.

When asked how the police is planning to manage political interference from ministers and MMDCE’s in their work of bringing to an end the ‘so-called’ Vigilante Groups, ACP David Eklu responded: “If His Excellency the President commanded to deal with them as the law required I don’t think any other person has any other authority than what the president has said”.

“The National Security has sent warning to these groups. He added serving warning that the service is going deal ruthlessly with outlaws thereof.

President Nana Addo on Monday said he is committed to clamp down the menace in his government when he visited the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in Kumasi.