Political vigilantism: Nana Addo rejects NDC’s call

President Nana Akufo-Addo has rejected a proposal made by the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the conditions to appoint chairman of the Peace Council to mediate the discussions on how to disband the various vigilante groups.

Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo in a letter to the President proposed an expansion to the discussions asking that all political parties, civil society organizations, representatives of the media, representatives of the military, police and other security agencies, as well as any other relevant stakeholders included to the discussion.

The NDC also added that “the phenomenon has appeared to take some root in the fabric of our politics, it is only prudent that the call for a disbandment is extended to not only the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party, but all political parties, civil society organisations, representatives of the media, representatives of the military, police and other security agencies, as well as any other relevant stakeholders.

“In addition, in view of the often recurrent mistrust and suspicion that characterize such interactions by political parties, and the pain and suffering that vigilantism may have created especially in the recent past, it is of the utmost importance that a mediator with national credibility be appointed to drive the entire process. In that regard, my party, the NDC, propose that the National peace Council be appointed as the mediator for such a meeting.”

However in a response, President Akufo-Addo said, he is disappointed that the NDC wants mediators in meeting with NPP adding that, the issue of political vigilantism can easily be solved by the two leading political parties without any external mediators.

According to him, political vigilantism “has unfortunately been associated with the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party.”

“I am dismayed, and I believe that the Ghanaian people share my dismay, that the two parties who have dominated and continue to dominate the politics of the Fourth Republic, who between them have garnered at least 95% of the votes in each of the seven (7) general elections of the Fourth Republic, who have provided all seven (7) Governments of the Fourth Republic, who are the only parties currently represented in the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic, cannot meet to dialogue on matters of our nation’s governance and political culture, without the intervention of outsiders, including foreign entities, no matter how well-meaning.” – he said.