Former vice chairperson of
the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Rhodaline Ayana, has questioned the
sincerity of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress
(NDC) in disbanding their respective vigilante groups.
She explained that the stance taken at the first
meeting of the two leading political parties in respect of the approach towards
disbandment of political party vigilantes, smacks of insincerity.
The two parties, met on April 9 at the request
of the National Peace Council, to find pragmatic solution to the scourge of
political vigilantism in the country. Even though the parties agreed at the
maiden meeting to disband the groups, they disagreed on how exactly it should
be done.
While the NDC called for a total disbandment of
all vigilante groups, the NPP insisted only political vigilante groups should
be disbanded, the NPP did not also agree to the identification of the vigilante
groups before they are banned and the meeting thus ended abruptly, with the NDC
expressing disappointment at the turn of events.
But Rhodaline Ayana observed that both parties
had not been honest in their approach to the issue of disbanding political
vigilante groups and they did not want to admit they had vigilantes in their
own fold.
“I will like to say the two parties, that is the
NPP and the NDC are not being sincere to the citizenry, they will have to
accept they do have vigilantes in their midst but have denied it.
“It is mere rhetoric for the parties to issue statements to condemn and disassociate themselves from acts of vigilantism when they arise, I expect more practical solution to the challenge than the statements usually issued.
“I am disappointed the parties did not own up to vigilante groups in their first meeting, which is to set the foundation for further engagements towards banning such groups because I expect them to agree there is a challenge they have vigilantes, I don’t think they really want to solve the menace.
“I agree with NDC’s call for multi-stakeholder engagement on the matter, the National Peace Council, civil society organisations, and other well-meaning citizens are better placed to help find a lasting solution to the menace of vigilantism by giving as much information as possible to the security agencies for a possible identification and regulation,” Rhodaline Ayana advised. -3news.com
