Stakeholders have been engaged in a training on Vigilantism and it’s related offences Act as well as a road-map and code of conduct to end political vigilantism.
The resolutions adopted in addressing the Vigilantism menace the country includes all parties to take the necessary steps in ensuring that their members refrain from vigilante activities, affirm their commitment to the political party code of conduct on political Vigilantism, and sign the Code during a public function organized by National Peace Council (NPC)in the presence of the Media.
Gender and Governance Programmes Manager at NORSAAC,an empowerment for change organization based in the Northern Region, Abubakari Kawusada explained that the workshop was aimed at bringing all parties and relevant stakeholders together on a round-table discussion to bring an end to Political Vigilantism and it’s related offenses as stipulated in Act 999.
The engagement according to him was timely taking into consideration the tensed political atmosphere ahead of the 2020 General Elections and called on all parties to cooperate with the process.
“The two documents have been finalized but yet Ghanaians know nothing about it and our interest as an organization was to unveil it to the people through representatives of organizations with the hope that these representatives will take it forward to their larger group and to their constituents” She said.
Upper East New Patriotic Party Regional Chairman,Anthony Namoo who was part of this engagement reaffirmed his party’s commitment and willingness to cooperate with the Road-map and Code of Conduct in ending the growing trend of vigilante activities.
Mr. Namoo indicated that the inclusion of the Peace Council as a moral authority in the country was crucial so far as the process was concerned towards election 2020.
He added that as a political party leader in the region, he would continue to play his leadership role by preaching peace to party youth supporters in and across the region.
“My message simply is that, they should keep behaving well, because there is no party that can get any vote by resorting to violence”. He said.
On his part,Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress in the Upper East Region, Abraham Lambon, said in as much his party was ready to abide by the road-map,i was imperative on government to come clear on it’s position against vigilantism.
“We will do our best to educate our members on the to avoid or refrain from Vigilantism, but we are also encouraging all the stakeholders like the media and the Civil society to engage the government because there is saying that, if you are seeking for justice, you must come with equity”. He observed.
Meanwhile,Northern Regional Director for National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Alhaji Abdul-Razak Saani believed that most notable factors that pushed the youth into Vigilantism was unemployment exposing them to abuse by politicians for their interest.
“Those factors that drive our compatriot, our brothers and sisters to take part in Vigilante activities, the first one, we have the problem of employment which for me, is a key, most of the youth are not employed”
”So they are misused by politicians and secondly, some of our youth are so much committed to the party culture they belong to and will go any length to protect it” He observed.
Mr. Saani has therefore impressed upon Civil Society Organizations(CSOs) to add their inputs in addressing the security threats in the country.
Source:A1radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Ghana
