Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has stated that the insurgence of vigilantism, which has its roots since pre-independence, is still a struggle and may turn into uncontrollable mayhem if not stopped in its track.
Thus, the need for stakeholders to confront the reality and defy the phenomenon, considering the recent conflicts in neighbouring countries.
“This impunity must be stopped right in its track. If we do not stop political vigilantism, it can escalate from ‘boot for boot’ to ‘bomb to bomb’. Conflict is so close to us. If we do not put our house to order because of internal conflicts, vigilantism can escalate,” he said.
Speaking
at an event in Accra on the theme: ‘Curbing Political Vigilantism: The Media’s
Take”, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu observed that “we have great numbers who will
want to sacrifice their lives for some people because they promised them
heaven. We can assure them that they will not get anywhere close”.
He also cautioned the youth against joining any political vigilante groups
since it is a waste of time and a fruitless cause, saying, “Why should the
youth endanger themselves for someone else to win political power. There is a depth
of patriotic and selfless people who are willing to lay down their lives for
the country.
“The media is encouraged to support the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs as the Ministry supports the promotion of good and accountable governance through the priority areas and strategic objectives for the benefit of the citizenry.
Affail Monney, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), reiterated that the media, as the fourth arm of government, must not compromise in naming and shaming persons involved in vigilantism.
“As media practitioners, with huge project to disband vigilantism, we should name and shame anyone or any group which poses an obstacle to do away with vigilantism and consign them to the dustbin of history.”
On the Vigilantism Bill, he said, “It is said that any law which has no element of education is a hallucination.
“After the law is passed, as media practitioners, we have a duty imposed by urgent necessity in the supreme national interest, to educate the citizenry by the provisions of the law to get them to own the law, to get them to internalise the law and reflect them in their daily lives.” –myjoyonline.com
