Gather political will to stop vigilante groups – NPP, NDC et al told

Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana Dr. Alidu Seidu has underscored the need for political parties to put a stop to activities by vigilante groups in Ghana.

Speaking at the 3rd edition of the Accra Dialogue series on Wednesday, Dr Seidu said political vigilante groups continue to carry out activities in the country as a result of the ‘informal’ contract between them and political parties.

“They invest with their lives, providing security to ballot boxes and political parties, and since they are not stopped by these parties, they feel the need to reap a benefit,” he stated.

Held at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), the Series was under the theme ‘The Scars of Vigilantism: A Legal or Political Question?’ One of the speakers lined up, Dr. Alidu Seidu said the vigilante groups usually expect distribution of benefits to reach them when there is a change in the distribution of political power as payment for their activities.

According to him, vigilante groups consider their activities an investment, hence the need to reap proceeds of their investment when their parties assume power.

“They feel they do not have the legal power to command resources so they rely on arms and their strength to demand their due,” Dr. Seidu noted.

This he said results in the vigilante groups aligning with the dominant political parties in the country.

He, therefore, urged political parties to gather political will to deal with the vigilante groups and put a stop to their activities, adding, there is the need to strengthen democratic institutions, allocate resources and empower civil society organizations to fight the menace.