Vigilantism Bill laid before Parliament

A vigilantism bill has been laid before Ghana’s Parliament for consideration and approval by the House.

The bill when passed into an Act will disband activities of vigilantism and prohibit the formation of such groups.

The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye has consequently referred the bill to the Constitution, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee to be considered under a certificate of urgency.

This comes after the governing New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress met to hold talks over the disbandment of vigilante groups affiliated to their parties.

The meeting follows a call by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the two parties to meet and find ways to disband their vigilante groups.

Delivering his third state of the nation address in parliament on Thursday, 21 February 2019, Nana Akufo-Addo said: “I want to make a sincere passionate appeal to the leaders of the two main political parties in our country – NPP and NDC – to come together as soon as possible, preferably next week, to agree on appropriate measures to bring an end to this worrying and unacceptable phenomenon of vigilantism in our body politic.

Meanwhile, the leader of Delta Force, a notorious vigilante group in Kumasi affiliated to the governing New Patriotic Party, has declared that the group is disbanding its membership.

Delta Force dominated the news in the year 2017 after the group stormed the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to physically drag out a Security Liaison appointed by the president Nana Akufo-Addo.

The group made up of well-built men, subsequently laid siege on a circuit court to free thirteen of its members who were standing trial for conspiracy, assault and causing damage to office property.

Speaking to host Julius Caesar Anadem on the Ultimate Breakfast, the leader of the Delta Force Kojo Bamba disclosed that they are heeding President Akufo-Addo’s call for all such groupings to halt their operations.

“As we speak now we have already spoken to our members across the country and made them aware that we respect the president’s decision and we will make sure that we will disband our group,” Bamba said.

He added: “For the respect they have for the party, they said that they are still members of the party they will go on to help the party but as to protecting the ballot boxes and protecting people there, they will not be part of any activities of vigilantism.”