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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed dismay over a letter by the National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo requesting mediators and facilitators of the dialogue between the two major political parties in the country.

It could be recalled that the President in his State of the Nation Address at Parliament this year urged both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the largest opposition NDC to hold a meeting towards the disbandment of vigilante groups.

President Nana Akufo-Addo noted with concern the dangers that vigilante groups pose to the lives of Ghanaians following their attacks by them since the inception of the government and so believes the two main political parties can help dissolve the groups.

The groups are said to owe allegiance to either the NPP or NDC and at their behest have been terrorizing people in the country.

"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 . . . the Security Services of the country will be on standby to assist this meeting. If voluntarily disbandment by the parties is not feasible, then I will initiate legislation in the matter," the President said.

Following the passionate appeal by the President, the NDC National Chairman, Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo wrote a letter to President Nana Akufo-Addo asking him to extend the call for disbandment not only to the NPP and NDC but to "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," the letter further stated.

In a reply to Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo's letter, the President stated that he is "not aware of any vigilante groups that are associated with any of these bodies, as your letter suggests. Political party vigilante activity in the country has, unfortunately, been associated with the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party. I, thus, see little basis for your request.

"Secondly, your request for mediators and facilitators of the dialogue. 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", the President said in a letter dated Monday, March 4, 2019.

President Akufo-Addo also called for the swift meeting to "take place as soon as possible, and all matters ventilated there, and the outcome of the meeting or meetings will be appropriately addressed".

"It is important that we trust in our own capabilities to resolve our own problems. Government stands ready to provide a venue, if it is the wish of the parties . . . I am hopeful that we can all work together to achieve a positive result for our country, and spare it the unnecessary consequences and traumas of vigilantism," the President advised.