The National Democratic Congress has raised concerns over the New Vigilantism Bill put before Parliament by the Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo.
According to them, they have no problem with the Bill but it should not have been raised under a Certificate of Urgency.
Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, General Secretary of the party, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia described the President as being very inconsistent in his fight against vigilantism.
He explains that the President said he was going to put the Bill through Parliament for a consultative discussion before it can be passed into law.
"So how do you send the Bill to Parliament through a Certificate of Urgency?" he asked.
This clearly indicates to them that the President is not committed to ending vigilantism, but he is doing something to cover his shame for the disgrace he has brought on his government in the violence that erupted during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.
"You have asked us to meet as political parties to find out ways that will help disband vigilante groups and then you go to Parliament to pass a Bill about this same issue within the shortest possible time without letting us or other groups know what is in the Bill that has been sent to Parliament," he said.
"And you are also asking them to pass the Bill within the shortest possible time. This shows how uncommitted you are in the fight against vigilantism."
A Vigilantism Bill has been laid before Ghana’s Parliament for consideration and approval by the House.
The Bill when passed into an Act will disband activities of vigilantism and prohibit the formation of such groups.
The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye has consequently referred the Bill to the Constitution, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee to be considered under a certificate of urgency.
This comes after the governing New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress met to hold talks over the disbandment of vigilante groups affiliated to their parties.
The meeting follows a call by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the two parties to meet and find ways to disband their vigilante groups.
Delivering his third state of the nation address in Parliament on Thursday, 21 February 2019, Nana Akufo-Addo said: “I want to make a sincere passionate appeal to the leaders of the two main political parties in our country – NPP and NDC – to come together as soon as possible, preferably next week, to agree on appropriate measures to bring an end to this worrying and unacceptable phenomenon of vigilantism in our body politic."
Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]
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From all indications, the NDC is not in favour of the disbandment of vigilante groups. I suggest that NDC is ignored and the new law is made to take effect. If they are men enough, they should dare. Throughout my life, I haven't seen a political party that lacks wise men and women like the NDC. Every single soul in the party is a hypocrite, dishonest, a lier or a combination of these. Permanent opposition is what they'll have this time.
NDC DOES NOT HAVE ANY INTENTION TO DISBAND POLITICAL VIGILANTISM. THEY ARE ONLY THROWING DUST INTO THE EYES OF GHANAIANS JUST TO BUY TIME. THE PRESIDENT CALL FOR THEM TO DIALOGUE WITH NPP ON THE MATTER IS JUST SUGARCOATING THE PROCESS TO DISBAND THE MILITIA GROUPS. THAT REQUEST CANNOT BE THE ACTUAL PROCEDURE TO BAND VIGILANTISM. ANY DECISION FROM THE DIALOGUE BY ITSELF CANNOT BE ENFORCED AS A LAW TO INCRIMINATE ANYBODY. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT NDC WOULD ONLY PROCLAIM TO DISBAND THE GROUPS WITHOUT ACTUALLY DOING SO. IT WILL BE A LIPS SERVICE. AFTER ALL THEY STARTED THE GROUP AND USED IT TO CAUSE POLITICAL HARM AND THREATS. THEY NOW PRETEND TO DISCOURAGE IT BECAUSE THEIR OPPONENT NPP HAS RESPONDED MORE FORCEFULLY TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN VIGILANTISM TO MEET NDC CHALE WATE FOR BOOT. BESIDES, SOME INDIVIDUALS IN NDC HAVE EXPLOITED THE GROUPS FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS TO MAKE THE GROUPS A THREAT TO OTHER NDC bigwigs. In view of this, WE NEED THE LAW SO THAT, AS COP GEORGE MENSAH SAID AT EMIL SHORT'S COMMISSION THAT WE CAN NOT ARREST THEM WHEN THEY HAVE NOT COMMITTED A CRIME, SINCE THEY WERE NOT DISBANDED. NOW IF WE ALLOW THEM TO EXIST and COMMIT A CRIME BEFORE WE CAN ARREST THEM, THEN WE ALLOW and support THEM TO CAUSE THE HARM. IN THAT CASE WE MAKE THE POLICE RETROACTIVE AND THE LAW TO ARREST THEM INACTIVE, BECAUSE THEY WILL ALWAYS BE AHEAD OF THE POLICE TO COMMIT A CRIME BEROE AN ACTION CAN BE TAKEN TO PURSUE THEM. THE COST OF THE HARM WOULD THEN BE IRREPARABLE AND IT IS ONLY UNCIVILIZED PEOPLE WHO WILL ENCOURAGE SUCH STATE OF CONDITION FOR THEIR SOCIETY. SUCH A CONDITION WILL BE EQUIVALENT TO TAKING OUR POLICEMEN AWAY FROM PATROLLING IN OUR CITIES AND HIGHWAYS FOR POLICE TO TAKE ACTION ONLY WHEN THEIR CRIMES ARE REPORTED AT THE POLICE STATIONS. NDC IS EITHER CLUELESS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF VIGILANTISM OR DISINTERESTED AND THEREFORE CAUSING CONFUSION TO DELAY THEIR DISBANDMENT.
When will Asiedu Nketiah stop this kind of politicking? Ghana has gone past this. It's free SHS era. We are looking for forward thinking ideas and not this kind of attacks. You attacked the person of Nana Addo (when he was talking ideas that would move Ghana forward) and it landed you in opposition. You still doing the same thing now. Can't you learn for goodness sake?
Asiedu Nketia should know by now that his old style of politics is past, so he should give way to competent NPP to move Ghana forward.
You have never hidden your enthusiasm for vigilantism and you placed your party's hope in the fact that your thugs will cause trouble and you can run town to name the ruling gov't. Alas, the Lord has exposed your evil plans via the Ofosu Ampofo tape. You use every opportunity on the subject to blame the prez. But we know your ways and your evil plans. It will not happen. We have prayed and no blood will spill. Your evil plans will not yield any fruits in Jesus Name.
THIS APONKYE ASEIDU NKETIAH IS MORE THAN GOAT. PERSON LIKE THIS WANTS TO RULE GHANA. OH GOD HAVE MERCY ON US. ASEIDU NKETIAH WHAT DO YOU KNOW. YOU BETTER GO AND SLEEP FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
Mr. A Nketia: You are a very dishonest person and discerning people know that. You can ***barred word*** some people some time but you can´t ***barred word*** all the people all the time.
this one too say wot again? tweaaaaaa
shame mr. secretary! how long will it take you to meet over this issue? you want Ghana to lose another life because of your inability to meet? shame