It’s not enough to disband vigilante groups - Dr Dankwah

A Research Fellow at the University of Cape Coast School of Development Studies (UCCSDS), Dr. Musah Darkwah says it will not be enough to disband vigilante groups but should be provided with alternative livelihoods for such groups.

According to him, vigilante groups had sprung up mainly due to unemployment, poverty and increased social inequalities and more decisive action was needed to tackle the root causes of vigilantism.

Dr. Dankwah said this at the 38th annual rally of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (Majlis Khudam-ul-Ahmadiyya) in the Abura Zone of the Central Region at the weekend.

The three-day annual rally, which was on the theme: "Curbing vigilantism in Ghana, a need for national peace”, was aimed at working towards improving the spirituality, moral, social and physical development of members to increase their faith in Allah.

Dr. Dankwah noted that corruption, which was widespread and vicious also created condition for vigilante activity and called for increased efforts in the fight against corruption.

He said vigilantism created instances for groups to kill, maim, and cause chaos and in the end, threatened the peace and security of the country and stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to deal with the canker.

Dr. Dankwah said the Police Service must be independent, well-resourced and insulated from partisan politics to adequately deal with political vigilantism.

He stressed the need for Ghanaians, especially the youth to be educated to understand and appreciate the legal systems existing in the country to deter them from indulging in acts that contradicted the laws of the land.

In this regard, he called Islamic leaders to channel resources to effectively educate the youth to change their mindset about joining vigilante groups.

"As Muslims, we need to be reminded of the meaning of Islam, which stands for peace for us to be the front-runners in dealing with vigilantism”, he said

Mr. Nasir Ahmad Bonsu, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association asked the Ahmadi youth to pray fervently for the leadership of the country to have the courage to deal with the issue.

He noted with regret how corruption, hooliganism, disorderliness, rebellion, lawlessness and currently kidnapping were fast spreading in the Ghanaian society.

Mr. Bonsu urged the Muslim youth to eschew all negative tendencies, work towards the growth of the society, be selfless and role models to be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.

Mr. Ernest Arthur, Cape Coast Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) appealed to Muslim parents to demonstrate high sense of responsibility in nurturing their children to become responsible citizens.

He advised the Muslim youth not to take the law into their own hands but use the right channels whenever they felt aggrieved.

As part of this year’s rally, the movement earlier embarked on a clean-up exercise at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and at some principal streets of Abura and Pedu.