Vigilantism in Ghana has probably gotten worse in different folds – Adam Bonaa

A security expert, Adam Bonaa, has expressed concern about the worsening issue of vigilantism in Ghana, despite the implementation of the Vigilantism and Other Related Offences Law.

According to him, the issue has worsened in diverse forms instead of being effectively dealt with.

Speaking in an interview on GhanaWeb TV’s Election Desk, Dr. Bonaa said, “So as far as I am concerned, the issue of vigilantism has rather probably gotten worse in different folds, and we have not been able to counter it the way the law wanted us to counter it.”

He further explained that the law was meant to counter vigilante activities and restore public trust in the country’s security framework.

Instead, the problem has evolved in diverse and dangerous ways, he stressed.

“Anybody who works in the security space will tell you we have a situation where the number who were captured in the original Vigilantism and Other Offences Act 2019 law has multiplied and gone up to about 71. Most of them, like the Invisible Forces and Bolga Bulldogs, have metamorphosed into security organisations and are still doing probably worse than we have seen.

“Prior to 2019 and the Vigilantism and Other Offences Act 2019, those types of offenses were not criminalised. For instance, joining one of the notable vigilante groups like Invisible Forces wasn’t criminalised, and so we all know some of the activities these guys have been part of—terrorising, beating, and maiming people.

"We know the manner of all election-related violence that happened in the 2019 by-election of Ayawaso West Wuogon. The president gave two weeks to political parties to dissolve their vigilante groups or else he would promulgate a law to ban them. Subsequently, a law was drafted and put before Parliament and eventually, it was criminalised," he added.

Dr. Bonaa noted that the list of outlawed groups has not been updated since the passage of the Act, despite a provision requiring the Minister of National Security to periodically review and expand it.

He argued that this inaction has allowed many vigilante groups to rebrand themselves as private security organisations while continuing their activities unchecked.

“About 27 groups were listed, but significantly, the Act indicated that the Minister of National Security would have to periodically update the list. Since the passage of the Act, the list of 27 outlawed organizations or vigilante groups has not been expanded. By law, there is a process the minister must go through in outlawing them, and he hasn’t done that.”

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RAD/AE