Political Vigilantism: NPP, NDC unable to meet due to mistrust – Otokunor

The governing New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress have been unsuccessful in setting up a meeting to discuss ways of trashing out party vigilantism from Ghanaian body politics due to mistrust among the two major parties, deputy general secretary of the NDC, Peter Boamah Otokunor has said.

Weeks after President Akufo Addo had revealed during the State of the Nation Address in February, that he’s asked his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to extend an invitation to the opposition for both parties to sit around the table to curb the menace of vigilantism, Ghanaian are yet to see any positive action from both parties.

Speaking to Accra based Class Fm, Mr. Otokunor questioned “Why wouldn’t you start the meeting with the stakeholders involved? Why should we [NDC] go and meet with you [NPP] alone? You know clearly that there is a lack of trust between these two parties and the NPP has not been honest in this matter. So, why would you go into an engagement knowing that it will not end?

He again added that “We think the President must show some commitment and lead from the front and not behind.”

While the NDC is asking for a third party participation and the involvement of other stakeholders, the government and the NPP thinks the meeting to resolve the matter shouldn’t go beyond the two main parties.

In a letter addressed to President Akufo Addo by the Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo, he proposed an expansion: the opposition party wants the discussions to include all political parties, civil society organizations, representatives of the media, representatives of the military, police and other security agencies, as well as any other relevant stakeholders.

“And as the phenomenon has appeared to take some root in the fabric of our politics, it is only prudent that the call for a disbandment is extended to not only the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party but all political parties, civil society organisations, representatives of the media, representatives of the military, police and other security agencies, as well as any other relevant stakeholders” he said in the letter.