We are not against a mediator in vigilante dialogue – NPP

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has given indications that the party is ready and willing to engage Civil Society Organizations and other groups involved in peace building in order to findng a lasting solution to issues of political vigilantism in the country.

Communications Director of the NPP Yaw Buaben Asamoa made this known on TV3‘s The Key Points on Saturday.

He insisted that they are fully in support of getting others involved in the conversation on political vigilantism.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo tasked the two main political parties, NDC and NPP to meet up and find a solution to the existence of vigilante groups who align with them.

Following this, Chairman of the National Democratic Congres (NDC) Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo wrote to the president expressing his party’s commitment towards ensuring the meeting comes off and solutions proffered to end the menace.

However, the NDC Chairman also called for the appointment of a mediator to oversee the said meeting and matters that will be discussed.

Responding to the letter by Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo, the president expressed dismay over the call for a mediator, stating that the issue ought to be dealt with solely by the two main parties.

But speaking on the issue, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah said the appointment of a mediator for the said meeting is not out of place, but it can only be done after the two parties meet to design a roadmap for deliberations on the matter.

He stated that the two parties ought to meet and mutually agree on a body to oversee the discussions.

“Our chairman made calls, and all these calls from our chairman to the chairman of the NDC were designed to bring the two of them together round the table and establish a framework, a roadmap leading to how these discussions [will go].

“…We have the [National] Peace Council, which is the statutory body of the state who has authority to convene meetings and mediate between parties to preserve the peace in the state. We are not against that, all we are saying is that let’s be sincere, let’s accept ownership of the problem and let’s work it out from our level,” Mr. Buaben Asamoa stated.

According to him, the president who is part of the executive arm of government “ought not to be the driving force” of discussions, and that the two parties must lead the way in finding solutions to vigilantism.

He said the parties must draw a plan and come up with a schedule of activities ,for starters, and that cannot be done unless the two parties meet.

The Adentan MP therefore urged the NDC to come on board for the meeting to take place, and that the NPP is ever ready to co-operate with them.