The formation of vigilante groups by the two main political parties in Ghana, the ruling New Patriotic Party {NPP} and the opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC] and the inciudents of kidnapping that has surfaced in the country in recent times are said to pose serious security threat to the country.
The activities of these groups have become a force to reckon with in recent times, compelling Civil Society Organizations [CSOs] as well as the various religious groups and individuals to call for the total ban of all these groups.
The recent to add their voice to the call are the founder of the Divine Gift Worship Min. in Agona Swedru, Pastor Philip McCalister and the minister in charge of the Agona Nyakrom branch of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Nicholas Baah Boison as well as the Guantoahene of Agona Nyakrom, Nana Adu Peseko VII, a retired banker.
According to them, the presence of these groups is gradually breeding the grounds for an event that may not be able to contain in the future, if pragmatic steps are not taken to address them.
They disagreed with the notion held by majority of the people that Ghana is a peaceful country, citing countries such as la Cote D’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Rwanda among others that were hitherto peaceful but turned into bloody states with just a spark of political unrest.
They proposed the involvement of everybody who matters in finding a lasting solution to the problem, even including the military if the need arises, to deal with any such group before they take the country hostage in the up-coming general elections.
They called on the police service to live up to its mandated duty by arresting the kidnappers.
According to them, the kidnappers do not keep their victims at where they were kidnapped, but sent them elsewhere in vehicles, and therefore expressed shock how the police could be outwitted despite the numerous police check points on the roads.
They pointed out that the development should serve as a wake up call for the police to move from harassing commercial drivers to checking private cars which they said are suspected to be used to commit these heinous crimes.
By Robert Ayanful