The National Communication Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC], Sammy Gyamfi says the new anti-vigilantism law presented to parliament will be ineffective if some strict measures are not implemented to it.
According to him, if the two major political parties are not encouraged to put into effect the law, its passage will be a “waste of time”.
“It all boils down to enforcement. The political will and courage to enforce the law is what matters and not the mere passage of laws,” he said.
President Nana Akufo-Addo during his State of the Nation Address [SONA] to Parliament expressed his determination to end political vigilantism in the country, adding that, if voluntary disbandment of vigilantes were not feasible, he would initiate legislation to stop it.
The President has already ordered the Attorney General to prepare the legislation.
But, Sammy Gyamfi who seems to have seen a draft of the bill told Peacefmonline.com in an interview that – “The bill does not address the issue of members of NPP political vigilante groups who have been integrated into the National Security apparatus and other security services.”
He argued that, if that is not addressed properly before the Bill is passed – “Then all that ruling political parties will do is to clothe their thugs with National Security apparels, gear to terrorize their political opponents as we saw during Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-election.”
“The definition of vigilante, vigilante group and vigilantism on page 10 is very problematic. It can serve as an escape route for those who engage in plain political party thuggery,” he noted.
He also questioned that, “Because the definitions limit vigilantism to law enforcement without lawful authority . . . what about those who engage in clear acts of hooliganism which have got nothing to do with law enforcement?”
To him, “Any anti-vigilantism law which doesn’t purge our security services of vigilante elements is useless.”
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash
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No surprised! What good thing has EVER come from NDC on anything that will make Ghana prosper? NDC only knows CREATE, LOOT & SHARE!
You are rather u$LeS$. What have you contributed to mother Ghana as a citizen. You think you will be rewarded for such loose talk, you are more than a "Robought" you will be used and later dump. Learn about the late Dr. Kwabena Adjei, the late Dr. Josiah Aryeh Obed Asamoah and others.
Let him talk rot snd send anyone to protect ballot boxes when the law is passed those f000*00ls must get their caskets ready because we Ghanaians will order thd security forces to shoot and kill anyone who attempts to steal ballot boxes in this age snd time! We must move away from ndc primitive attitude, let to them Ghana never move forward! they try any st*upid thing the laws of this land should deal mercilessly with them. The international community accept rule of law ,let them send hoodlums and the government will send National security. The international community agree national security take on with thugs who can become terrorists. Akufo Addo is an international lawyer and a human activist who the international community trust and believe more than John mahama! Somebody ask john mahama and his ndc what happened to their videos that they called the diplomats and showed? who like ndc in this world
The NDC are not committed to the ban because they put all their hopes into the vigilantes to disrupt elections in NPP key areas to reduce their count of votes. They have started pooping the idea and are bent on accusing NPP as the perpetrators when we all know it's their cup and tea to cause election violence. Even the MP like Sam George is notorious for such tactics.