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The National Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC], Samuel Gyamfi has described President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s response to the NDC on disbanding of party militia in Ghana’s politics as “sad” and “unfortunate”.

“We have officially received the letter from the president and let me say here that, it’s very sad and unfortunate for the president to send us [NDC] such letter in responses to our earlier letter to him on the way forward to disband vigilante groups,” he bemoaned.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo today, Tuesday, March 05, 2019 expressed dismay at the leadership of the main opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC] for suggesting that the National Peace Council and other relevant bodies should mediate talks between the NDC and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) on disbanding party militia in Ghana’s politics.

The NDC, through its National Chairman, agreed to Nana Akufo-Addo’s call for the two parties to meet over how to disband party militia groups in the country, but outlined some conditions for their participation in the dialogue.

Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo addressed to the president said the call for disbandment should be extended 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.

They also proposed that the National Peace Council and other relevant bodies such as the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Center, the United Nations Development Programme [UNDP], the National Commission for Civic Education [NCCE], and Institute for Democratic Governance [IDEG] join the National Peace Council to facilitate the process.

But President Nana Addo in his response said “I am 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.”

Speaking on the issue on ASEMPA FM’s Ekosii Sen political program, Tuesday, March 05, 2019, Sammy Gyamfi noted that the NDC is not “happy” with the president’s reply – hence, dialogue to disband the most talked about groups [Vigilante groups] in the country is likely to hit the rocks.

According to him, the NDC will still insist that all parties and other institutions including journalists must be involved in the dialogue process to break up vigilante groups.

“We will continue to impress on the President so we all have the holistic approach in solving this situation. If we will go by what the president is proposing, then it will be a waste of time and a waste of resources,” he said.