Editorial

Time to end vigilantism in Ghana

One of the most topical issues in Ghana today is political vigilantism.

It has become topical because the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians have condemned the phenomenon which is linked to the two leading political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The vigilante groups have indulged in unacceptable conducts over the years and Ghanaians have shown their abhorrence for their violent activities.

In response to the demand for their disbandment, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo invited the two political parties to meet and discuss ways that would lead to the disbandment of vigilantism in Ghana.

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As a matter of fact, the announcement was welcomed by both political parties including civil society and faith based organisations.

Indeed, everyone thought that it was an opportunity for the two parties to sit at the table to deal with vigilantism once and for all.

However, differences emerged as to the format the meeting should take.

Whilst the NPP were of the view that the meeting should be between the two political parties who are mainly associated with the vigilante groups, the NDC thinks that it should include other stakeholders including the United Nations (UN).

The proposal by the NDC initially was rejected by the NPP.

President Akufo-Addo said then that the two main political parties do not require a mediator for the meeting to break up militias associated with them.

“It is important that we trust in our own capabilities to resolve our own problems,” the President said in a letter responding to NDC’s position on his call to disband vigilante groups.

The two positions taken by the political parties almost derailed the meeting but thankfully the NDC’s position has eventually been accepted and the NPP has written to the NDC inviting them for a meeting.

The Ghanaian Times welcomes the letter from the NPP and thinks that it should pave way for a very fruitful meeting to yield very positive outcomes

It has been reported that the NDC has accepted the proposal and we are hopeful that all the arrangements would be made in the shortest possible time for a meeting that all Ghanaians are looking forward to.

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