Ending Political Vigilantism: We Are Making Progress With Political Parties – Peace Council

The National Peace Council has disclosed that they are satisfied with the progress of work being carried out by the various political parties in their bid to end political vigilantism.

According to them, the various political parties have shown commitment and that they are satisfied with what they have achieved with the political parties.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, Chairman of the Peace Council, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante explained that though there were some hiccups with their initial meetings with the political parties, they are making a head way with them and that they are sure that by the time they are done, the various political parties will be satisfied.

"We will be meeting again on 27th May with them and the security agencies to continue with discussions," he added.

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have agreed on the immediate scope of dialogue on ending political vigilantism in the country.

The parties reached the agreement on Monday at Peduase in the Eastern Region at the end of their second meeting on ending political vigilantism.

A communique issued and signed jointly by Mr Freddie Blay, NPP National Chairman and Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, NDC National Chairman, and witnessed by Nana Dr S. K. B. Asante, a member of the National Peace Council (NPC) said both parties agreed to commence a discussion on the elimination of vigilantism with key stakeholders and experts.

"These stakeholders shall include; representatives of civil society organisations, security agencies and religious bodies," it said.

The communique said the process was aimed at disbanding vigilante groups operating within or for political purposes; prohibiting the ownership, hiring, or utilisation of such groups by the political parties or members thereof; cooperating with state agencies and stakeholders in the total eradication of such groups or incidents of vigilantism in the country.

It said the next meeting between the two parties under the mediation of the  National Peace Council was slated for May 27.

The meeting is at the instance of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

It would be recalled that President Akufo-Addo in his State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, February 21, called on the leadership of the two main leading political parties (NPP and NDC) to help find a lasting solution to the menace of political vigilantism in Ghana.