The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the cycle of politically related acts of violence and vigilantism that occurs in Sankore, in the Asunafo South Constituency of the Ahafo Region, is soon coming to an end.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the Vigilantism and Related Offences Bill, which is currently before Parliament, when passed, should deal effectively with the worrying phenomenon of vigilantism not only in Sankore, but in all parts of the country.
The Bill, when passed, will ensure that “not only the people who are inciting the violence will be punished, but also the powerful people behind them will face the full extent of the law.”
The President stressed that “Once Parliament passes this bill, everyone involved in vigilantism will face the law – whether you are a Minister, Regional Minister, MP or not, once you are implicated, you will be prosecuted.”
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday, 12th April, 2019, at a durbar of the Chiefs and people of Sankore, at the commencement of a 2-day tour of the newly created Ahafo Region.
Expressing his disgust at the spate of politically motivated violence in Sankore, he indicated that “this cycle of violence taking place in Sankore ends today.”
He assured residents that, as opposed to what happened in the run-up to the 2016 elections, where Sankore became a hotbed for clashes and attacks on residents, “in the 2020 elections, I give you my personal promise, it will not happen here in Sankore.”
President Akufo-Addo added that persons who resort to the use of violence to win an election are, automatically, not the people’s choice.
“If you are, then there is no need to intimidate people into voting for you. The people themselves will rally together to vote for you. That is what we want to see here in Ghana – peaceful, free elections. If you are going to rely on violence and bloodshed, then it would appear that you are not the one the people want. I repeat, this will not happen again,” he said.
The President continued, “We are not going to allow Ghanaian politics, Ghanaian democracy, to be compromised by these acts of violence and thuggery. It will not happen again. Since October (2018), we have not heard any news of political violence in Sankore. We will continue to monitor the situation. I also call on you to be alert, and help me to ensure that peace continues to reign here in Ghana, especially here in Sankore.”
Source: Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
chief of Rhetoric
Are you still doing this f00*ish propaganda? A violent person fighting for press freedom and accepting a court decision even though any level headed person knows that decision by the court was just to keep the peace in this country. Go find a dictionary and lookup the meaning of a violent man. The man is blessed and losers like you will waste away with envy.
NDC DOES NOT HAVE ANY INTENTION TO DISBAND POLITICAL VIGILANTISM. THEY ARE ONLY THROWING DUST INTO THE EYES OF GHANAIANS JUST TO BUY TIME. THE PRESIDENT CALL FOR THEM TO DIALOGUE WITH NPP ON THE MATTER IS INTENDED TO SUGARCOAT THE PROCESS TO DISBAND THE MILITIA GROUPS. THAT REQUEST CANNOT BE THE ACTUAL STEPS TO BAN VIGILANTISM. ANY DECISION FROM THE DIALOGUE BY ITSELF CANNOT BE ENFORCED AS A LAW TO INCRIMINATE ANYBODY. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT NDC WOULD ONLY PROCLAIM TO DISBAND THE GROUPS WITHOUT ACTUALLY DOING SO. IT WILL BE A LIPS SERVICE. AFTER ALL THEY STARTED THE GROUPS AND USED THEM TO CAUSE POLITICAL HARM AND THREAT. THEY NOW PRETEND TO DISCOURAGE THEM BECAUSE THEIR OPPONENT NPP HAS RESPONDED MORE FORCEFULLY TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN VIGILANTISM TO MEET NDC CHALE-WATE FOR BOOT. BESIDES, SOME INDIVIDUALS IN NDC HAVE EXPLOITED THE GROUPS FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS TO MAKE THE GROUPS A THREAT TO OTHER NDC bigwigs. In view of this, WE NEED THE LAW SO THAT, AS COP GEORGE MENSAH SAID AT EMIL SHORT'S COMMISSION "WE CAN NOT ARREST THEM WHEN THEY HAVE NOT COMMITTED A CRIME", SINCE THEY WERE NOT DISBANDED. NOW IF WE ALLOW THEM TO EXIST and COMMIT A CRIME BEFORE WE CAN ARREST THEM, THEN WE ALLOW and support THEM TO CAUSE THE HARM. IN THAT CASE WE MAKE THE POLICE RETROACTIVE AND THE LAW TO ARREST THEM INACTIVE, BECAUSE THEY WILL ALWAYS BE AHEAD OF THE POLICE TO COMMIT A CRIME BEROE AN ACTION CAN BE TAKEN TO PURSUE THEM. THE COST OF THE HARM WOULD THEN BE IRREPARABLE AND IT IS ONLY UNCIVILIZED PEOPLE WHO WILL ENCOURAGE SUCH STATE OF CONDITION FOR THEIR SOCIETY. SUCH A CONDITION WILL BE EQUIVALENT TO TAKING OUR POLICEMEN AWAY FROM PATROLLING IN OUR CITIES AND HIGHWAYS FOR POLICE TO TAKE ACTION ONLY WHEN THEIR CRIMES ARE REPORTED AT THE POLICE STATIONS. NDC IS EITHER CLUELESS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF VIGILANTISM OR DISINTERESTED AND THEREFORE CAUSING CONFUSION TO DELAY THEIR DISBANDMENT.
We are living in an interesting world. Though this is a very good advice, the question then is "who is saying this"? ALL DIE BE DIE! This man never stops amazing the world. The most violent politician in Ghana is now advising people to avoid him, that is good news. Those young guys who have supported this man's violent direction should now thank God, he says they shouldn't follow him anymore.