NDC urges strengthening of security services to tackle vigilantism

Strengthening the security agencies is one of the measures necessary to clamp down on vigilantism in Ghanaian politics.

Director of elections of the NDC Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo says this is especially critical during elections.

Speaking at a forum, he noted Ghanaian elections are still fraught with such challenges as vigilantes wanting to disrupt collation of election results or snatch ballot boxes.

The forum was dubbed Consolidating Ghana’s Democratic Governance: The role of the Electoral Commission.

He cited the Upper West Akyem constituency of the Eastern Region as one of the troubled areas where people nearly hijacked the collation room. It took the bravado of the electoral officer with the protection of the security forces to move the ballot papers to the regional capital Koforidua to have them counted.

Vigilantism remains one of the disturbing phenomenon in the political landscape. The NPP and NDC have various groups aligned to them. In recent times NPP vigilante group Delta forces and invincible forces have been on violent rampages for various reason.

One other group recently invaded and terrorized staff of the Tamale teaching hospital demanding the removal of the Chief Executive Officer.

Promises by the political parties to disband the groups have never seen action.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo is of the view that strengthening the security services will actually neutralize the vigilantes and gradually water down their influence in society and the political system.