Vigilantism is inimical to Ghana’s democracy – NPP, NDC agree

Ghana’s two major political parties have agreed that vigilantism must be eradicated from the democratic system since it is “inimical” to it.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) came to the agreement after an “open” and “exhaustive” deliberation mediated by the National Peace Council (NPC) in Accra.

The deliberation followed calls by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to have the two major parties meet to disband their respective vigilante groups.

It was held at the Council’s offices on Tuesday, April 9.

Chairmen of the two parties led high-powered delegations made up of current and former ministers of state into the meeting, which was largely held behind closed-doors.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by NPP’s Freddie Worsemao Blay and NDC’s Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo indicated that the two parties are “committed to exploring other processes in relation to the elimination of vigilantism”.

However, they disagreed on the immediate focus of the mediation.

While the ruling party is said to be calling for the eradication of “political party vigilantism in all its ramifications”, the opposition party wants the eradication of “political vigilantism in all its ramifications”.

But they both saw eye to eye with the disbandment of vigilante groups within political parties or for political purposes, prohibiting the ownership, hiring or utilization of such groups by the political parties or members thereof and cooperating with state agencies and stakeholders to ensure the total eradication of such groups or any incidence of vigilantism.