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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.”