The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has assured Ghanaians that he will do everything in his power to arrest the new phenomenon of vigilantism.
Addressing a meeting of the National House of Chiefs on Monday, 6th November, 2017, President Akufo-Addo stated that “I will not walk the path others trod who found it convenient to turn a blind eye to the criminal misdeeds of their followers and took no action, as it would displease them.”
The President added that “I am walking another path, the path of making reality the principle of the rule of law, the idea of equality of every citizen before the law. Wrongdoers wear no political colours. They are just wrongdoers, and will be dealt with as such.”
Urging the membership of the National House of Chiefs to speak out and join Government’s fight against the ills of our society – corruption, social and economic injustice, crime, he reminded them also about the fight against the illegal mining menace, popularly referred to as galamsey.
President Akufo-Addo noted that the country has gone through a lot of difficult times in recent years, and it has meant that some people have had to find ways and means to keep body and soul together, and, as a result, engaged themselves in illegal activities, such as galamsey.
“As Chiefs, you have a responsibility, as was done in the days of our forefathers, to help preserve our lands, water bodies and environment. We all have a responsibility to say no to galamsey for our own common survival and the survival of those who are to come. If we allow it, we are jeopardising both our present and our future. Our responsibility in this is clear,” he added.
As customary guardians of the morals of the nation’s communities, both by your conduct and the manner in which you intervene in their lives, President Akufo-Addo noted that recent cases, involving the defilement of children, have become causes for grave concern in the country.
“Such cases cannot be treated as “family matters”. Again, instances where youths take the law into their own hands, vandalising properties, can no longer continue, and must be condemned by all. Perpetrators of such acts must be handed over to the law enforcement agencies for the laws of the land to take their course. Senior citizens should not be seen to be making special pleas for such perpetrators,” the President stressed.
In asking them to speak out, President Akufo-Addo urged them not to fall into the well-known temptation of telling him what they think he should hear.
“It would be equally tempting to tell me that I am the best thing that ever happened to Ghana, and it would be even more tempting to tell me to ignore my critics. I expect that, as our esteemed Traditional Rulers, you will not go down that road, but will allow the moral authority of your status to justify your interventions,” he added.
By the same token, President Akufo-Addo urged the Chiefs and Queen Mothers not to be afraid of discarding those rules that do not fit in with modern, current realities and norms, making particular reference to the practices that seek to discriminate against women and children.
“It is difficult, for example, to find a scientific, legitimate reason why children should be given tiny pieces of meat or fish, when children need more protein than adults. It is difficult, again, to find a justification for some of the widowhood rites that persist, today, among many of our peoples. I urge you to be in the forefront of fighting to discard those outmoded practices, which should have no place in the Ghana of the 21st century,” he said.
Aware that the Constitution of the Republic forbids Chiefs to engage in partisan political activity, President Akufo-Addo noted that their involvement in the public life of the country derives naturally from their position as traditional rulers.
It is, thus, his hope that members of the National House of Chiefs will help set the tone in their areas of influence to help realise government’s vision for a prosperous and progressive Ghana.
“I would, therefore, appeal to you to lend your voice in support of the regional and local government reforms being undertaken by my Government, i.e. the creation of new regions, in accordance with popular aspirations; the direct election by their people of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives; and creation of new districts and the upgrading of some existing ones into municipalities. Government is determined to bring governance closer to the people, and expand the boundaries of democracy in our country,” the President said.
He continued, “We are counting on you to help shape and integrate yourselves into these developments, so that the peculiarly Ghanaian contribution to the concept of governance, which emanates from the integration of royal, aristocratic institutions into the fabric of a republican, democratic framework, will be enhanced and strengthened to the benefit of the Ghanaian people.”
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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It's not mouth mouth wai.
You are talking too much, we need action
These hooligans are NDC goons. If the police start the arrest and prosecutions Ghanaians will know the truth. Their actions are for NDC consumption. I wonder why the police reluctant and waiting for the president to tell them what to do.
ITS A REAL JOKE FOR THE PRESIDENT TO TALK LIKE WE ARE ***barred word***..WHO TURNS A BLIND EYE..WE HAVE NEVER AS A COUNTRY SEEN SUCH LAWLESSNESS...KOFI COOMSON COME FOR YOUR STONE
Senility is really beginning to get the better of this old ***barred word***. A police officer was assaulted in broad daylight right at the president and it is captured on CCTV, still no justice for the cop and the culprit walking freely. Someone needs to slap some sense into his old sleepy and dull brain.
I always wonder why Ghanaian politicians think they are the only wise people in the Country. They speak with so much disregard for the rest of us.
Keep blowing jazz to the good people of Ghana thinking we are ***barred word***. When nemesis catches up in the form of the many demons you created and are superintending over, don't say we did not tell you. ***barred word*** pre......what?
on these vigilantes groups, i have come to realized that is only Sammy Awuku who talks and they listen could it be he is behind these people? i think Nana should let the security agencies investigate this. i have monitored this, anytime they do sth and the nations talks about it Sammy Awuku comes out to speak for them.
With all due respect to Mr. President, if you are walking the talk on vigilantism, the national house of chiefs would not have come to seek audience with you