The National Peace Council has expressed satisfaction about the outcome of their meeting with the two major political parties on the disbandment of vigilante groups.
According to the Council, the two political parties have shown commitment and they believe their subsequent meeting will help put the matter to rest.
Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, a member of the Peace Council and a former Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah explained that though this is just the beginning of the various meetings with the two political parties to ending political party vigilantism, it has been very fruitful.
"Both parties have shown commitment and it is our prayer that they will continue this way for us to reach an understanding as to how vigilante activities can be eliminated from the country's body politic," he added.
He has therefore asked all parties involved to contribute their quota and commitment to ensuring that both parties will stick to grounds to disband all such vigilante groups in their various parties.
The two major political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) have emphasized the need to stop the activities of political vigilante groups in the country.
This was the outcome of the first day of the dialogue to end vigilantism which is being mediated by the National Peace Council.
The NPP and the NDC among other things also agreed to stop the ownership, hiring and the utilization of vigilante and or militia groups by political members.
The Chairman of today’s [Tuesday] meeting, Prof. S. K. B. Asante reading a summary of the outcome of today’s dialogue to the media said: “After an open and exhaustive deliberation, the parties agreed that vigilantism is inimical to Ghana’s system and must be eradicated . . . Significantly, both parties agreed to engage in deliberations aimed at:
1. Disbanding vigilante groups operating within political parties or for political purposes.
2. Prohibiting the ownership, hiring or utilization of such groups by the political parties or members thereof;
3. Cooperating with state agencies and stakeholders in the total eradication of such groups or incidence of vigilantism in the country.”
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the NPP and NDC, Mr. Freddie Blay and Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo respectively disclosed that the two parties have agreed to also cooperate with the relevant state agencies to ensure all of such groups are disbanded.
Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]
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So what impression is the NDC trying to give the public after the meeting? NDC doesn't want to help the disbandment of vigilante groups. It seems their last hope for 2020 is in the Hawks and Azorka boys.