Vigilante groups threat to national security - CODEO

Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) has expressed worry over activities of political vigilante groups in the country.

Consequently, the group called for the immediate disbandment of all such groups by the various political parties and the security agencies.

At a press briefing in Tamale in the Northern Region addressed by the National Coordinator of CODEO on Friday, July 14, 2017 Mr. Albert Kofi Arhin stated that the activities of political vigilante groups had been on the increase.

He noted that the development posed a threat to the country’s security and democratic dispensation.

To this end, CODEO called on all stakeholders including the political parties, security agencies, chiefs, and the public to, as a matter of urgency, take the necessary steps to address the growing menace.

Mr. Arhin also stated that the existence of these political party vigilante groups was illegal, and thus called on the Ghana Police Service to immediately disband them for the sake of national security.

He urged the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who are responsible for the emergence of these groups to own up to their responsibilities and work together with the police to disband all politically affiliated groups.

CODEO also urged the political parties to desist from funding these groups which were becoming combative and uncontrollable.

The Coalition further called on government and other agencies to resource state agencies, especially the police service, to handle the complexities and combat criminal activities by these vigilante groups.

The activities of political party vigilante groups have recently taken centre stage with members of Delta Force who are affiliated to the governing NPP causing disorder in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

Meanwhile, CODEO has embarked on a nationwide public engagement through regional roundtable discussions on this growing phenomenon.